Flavors of Youth (2018)
肆式青春
Film details
Animation · Romance · Drama · 易振兴 · 1h 14min
Synopsis
The rigorous city life of China, while bustling and unforgiving, contains the everlasting memories of days past. Three stories told in three different cities, follow the loss of youth and the daunting realization of adulthood. Though reality may seem ever changing, unchangeable are the short-lived moments of one's childhood days. A plentiful bowl of noodles, the beauty of family and the trials of first love endure the inevitable flow of time, as three different characters explore the strength of bonds and the warmth of cherished memories. Within the disorder of the present world, witness these quaint stories recognize the comfort of the past, and attempt to revive the neglected flavors of youth.
Verdict
Contemplative animated triptych about nostalgia, youth, and family bonds.
In-depth analysis
This Japanese animated film, produced for Netflix, interweaves three brief stories about the nostalgia of youth in contemporary China. The first story follows a young professional who, from Beijing, recalls the noodles his grandmother prepared in his hometown; the second explores the relationship between two sisters in the world of youth fashion; the third addresses a first love in Shanghai.
The tone is markedly contemplative and melancholic, characteristic of CoMix Wave Films' visual style. The work is sustained by the beauty of the everyday and the emotional weight of memories: there are no villains or dramatic conflicts, but rather the quiet acknowledgment of the passage of time. The values conveyed are solid: gratitude towards elders, loyalty between sisters, the treasure of simple bonds that give meaning to life. The animation is delicate and the music, enveloping. For parents, it is a work that invites conversation about memory, gratitude, and the importance of the people who shaped us. Appropriate for the whole family, though its unhurried pace may demand mature attention.