My Best Summer (2019) Review: A Nostalgic Chinese Teen Romance

 

My Best Summer (Original Title: Zui hao de wo men) | 2019 | 1h 49m
Genre: Drama / Romance | Country: China
Director: Disa Zhang | Writers: Disa Zhang, Bin Huang, Moqi Huang
Cast: Arthur Chen, Haha He, Kara Ying Hung Wai
IMDb: 6.0
My Rating: 9/10

Geng Geng's ordinary high school life takes on a new vibrancy when Yu Hai, one of the school's brightest students, chooses to become her seatmate.

Warning:

None

 

Synopsis of My Best Summer

Geng Geng (Haha He) is lucky enough to get into her dream high school despite having relatively low grades. When she looks at the class assignments posted on the bulletin board, she discovers that she has been placed next to Yu Hai (Arthur Chen), one of the school's top students.

Their meeting becomes even more meaningful because their names, Geng Geng Yu Hai, form a Chinese phrase that means “unforgettable memories.”

Geng Geng and Yu Hai end up in the same class, and Yu Hai insists that Geng Geng become his seatmate. Although she is not interested in the idea at first, she eventually has little choice.

Their relationship is not particularly smooth in the beginning, but they gradually grow closer. Yu Hai's charm, along with his ability in both academics and sports, slowly captivates Geng Geng.

In fact, Yu Hai has liked Geng Geng since they first met. He helps her with her studies, and with his support, her grades begin to improve.

However, Yu Hai's mother learns about their relationship and disapproves. She asks for Geng Geng to be separated from Yu Hai. After hearing about this, Geng Geng is deeply upset and begins trying to distance herself from him.

Will their story have a happy ending?

 
Review

My Best Summer is adapted from the web novel With You by Ba Yue Chang An. It presents an interesting story about teenage love, but what makes it especially enjoyable is how relatable it feels to the lives and experiences of teenagers in general.

The story captures the simplicity of teenage relationships, which makes it easy to connect with and enjoy.

The music, songs, camerawork, and color composition work beautifully together to make each scene feel more lively. The performances are also very natural, and there is strong chemistry between the actors.

There are occasionally scenes that feel a little illogical, but they do not significantly disrupt the flow of the story.

The film follows two different periods in the characters' lives: their teenage years and their adulthood. Interestingly, the actors remain the same throughout both periods. The differences are conveyed through their clothing, makeup, and performances.

The work of the makeup and wardrobe teams is quite good because the atmosphere of each period remains clearly distinguishable. The actors also adjust their performances to reflect the characters at different stages of their lives.

Arthur Chen's performance in this film earned him a Best Newcomer award. It is easy to see why his performance stands out. He is able to convey his character's emotions and expressions quite naturally, making Yu Hai particularly memorable.

I would recommend this film to cinephiles who enjoy light and entertaining romance stories. Beyond the romance, the film also offers several lessons through the experiences of its characters. The conflicts and emotional ups and downs can be quite touching for the audience.

 

Memorable Scene

Geng Geng, who struggles academically, is unsure about which academic track to choose. Yu Hai, being one of the smartest students in his class, chooses the science track, while Geng Geng's family encourages her to choose the social sciences track instead.

However, Geng Geng makes a bold decision: she chooses the science track simply so she can remain Yu Hai's classmate.

The happiness on Yu Hai's face when he realizes that Geng Geng has joined his class is especially touching. There is something pure about the happiness they share in that moment.

What makes the scene memorable is the way the characters prioritize their friendship and the simple joy of being together.

 

Memorable Dialogue

“If there were a doomsday, that day would never be in summer.”

Ending

Happy Ending

 

Recommendation

Must watch.

 

(Aluna Uwie)

Had been published in Alunauwie.com

"This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers."

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