Old Boys tells the story of two ordinary men in their late 20s. They have seen their youth go by and have settled for the simplicity of everyday life. One day, struck by the death of Michael Jackson, who was their school-day idol, they decide to enter a singing contest together. The film goes back and forth between their wondrous but long lost past and their dull and hard-pressed present.
The two lead characters in Old Boys are representative of China’s post-80s generation. China’s Cut-throat competition and fearsome unemployment rate have left many college graduates to fend for themselves. Though some are employed, the jobs they have are not what they have dreamed for. Their youthful aspirations, in the face of having to make a living, are nearing disappearance. The film humorously crafts the laments and nostalgia of one’s bygone youth. These emotions resonate with contemporary Chinese viewers. As pointed out by China Youthology,
From a youth insight perspective, the popularity of ‘Old Boys’ is no surprise. The story addresses two core tensions of youth in China now: the frustration in achieving the dominant dream of a middle-class life; and the frustration in achieving individual dreams. Many youth were moved to tears by the story.
China Smack also notes similar reactions of the viewers,
many people leaving [shed] tears over their youth, commending it as a rare example of a fine domestically-produced piece of work. The film has also spurred passionate discussion amongst netizens about one’s dreams.
http://dgeneratefilms.com/critical-essays/new-hit-web-movie-marks-chinese-cinemas-online-explosion/
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青春時代の叶わなかった夢を振り返るという歌詞が、中国の20代・30代を中心に絶大な支持を得ているそうです。
A text to look back on the dream that did not come true of the youth seems to get great support mainly on 20s .30 generations in China.
The two lead characters in Old Boys are representative of China’s post-80s generation. China’s Cut-throat competition and fearsome unemployment rate have left many college graduates to fend for themselves. Though some are employed, the jobs they have are not what they have dreamed for. Their youthful aspirations, in the face of having to make a living, are nearing disappearance. The film humorously crafts the laments and nostalgia of one’s bygone youth. These emotions resonate with contemporary Chinese viewers. As pointed out by China Youthology,
From a youth insight perspective, the popularity of ‘Old Boys’ is no surprise. The story addresses two core tensions of youth in China now: the frustration in achieving the dominant dream of a middle-class life; and the frustration in achieving individual dreams. Many youth were moved to tears by the story.
China Smack also notes similar reactions of the viewers,
many people leaving [shed] tears over their youth, commending it as a rare example of a fine domestically-produced piece of work. The film has also spurred passionate discussion amongst netizens about one’s dreams.
http://dgeneratefilms.com/critical-essays/new-hit-web-movie-marks-chinese-cinemas-online-explosion/
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青春時代の叶わなかった夢を振り返るという歌詞が、中国の20代・30代を中心に絶大な支持を得ているそうです。
A text to look back on the dream that did not come true of the youth seems to get great support mainly on 20s .30 generations in China.
