A bittersweet love story found in ‘Us and Them’

by Ashley Stewart

Netflix’s romantic films — well, the rom-coms, at least — have been a hit or miss throughout 2018. As a hopeless/hopeful romantic, I always love a good rom-com so thank goodness for Netflix or else I would have never discovered Taiwanese singer-actress Rene Liu’s directorial debut, “Us and Them.”

Released earlier this year, “Us and Them” is an international romantic drama that tells the love story of Xiaoxiao Fang (Zhou Dongyu) and Lin Jianqing (Jing Boran). The two meet when they are in their early 20’s by chance on a train back to their hometown, right before the New Year. Alternating between scenes from the past and present, the two characters recount the time they spent together in their hometown and Beijing.

Slow-paced and dreamy, this film captures the highs and lows of young love and young adulthood. The bittersweet tone throughout the film keeps the dramatic scenes grounded.

“Us and Them” brilliantly portrays love gained, given and lost — in a honest way. It is exciting and heartwarming to watch Xiaoxiao and Jianqing’s friendship become something more. Like all great love stories, reality kicks in at some point, and the couple, along with the audience, must realize that the two are not the center of this world.

Xiaoxiao and Jianqing change and mature during their relationship, and while the audience can see that love is still there, personalities, ambitions and, eventually, feelings change.

Don’t let the subtitles deter you from this beautiful film. The dialogue is poetic, heartwarming and heartbreaking, so it is worth the read. Also, the chemistry between Jing Boran (Jianqing) and Zhou Dongyu (Xiaoxiao) is palpable and will keep you (and a few of the supporting characters in the film) rooting for the two until the very end. This, paired with the beautiful cinematography, may make you wish the film was even longer than its’ two hours.

If you are a hopeless and/or hopeful romantic, then watch this film — it’s wonderful and mushy. I can’t guarantee that you’ll be sobbing by the end of the film, but you’re sure to “feel some type of way” by the end that will leave you satisfied.