Better Days (2019)

Better Days constructs a stark portrait of school bullying within the context of the extreme pressure of the gaokao, the examination that determines the future of millions of young Chinese. Director Derekc Tsang does not aestheticize suffering: bullying is depicted in its physical and emotional cruelty, without concessions. The film opens with the suicide of a student and follows Chen Nian, who becomes the next target. Her encounter with Xiao Bei, a young delinquent, forges a pact of mutual protection that forms the moral heart of the work. The screenplay avoids both sermonizing and nihilism: it presents pain as real, moral decisions as complex, and solidarity among outcasts as the sole light in a system that grinds down its children. There is no ideological agenda, but rather an implicit social critique. The violence is disturbing because it is realistic, not because it is graphic. For parents: it requires emotional maturity from the viewer and accompaniment to discuss bullying, academic pressure, and ethical decisions in extreme situations. A valuable drama, but not suitable for unprepared minors.