[Netflix Movie Review] "Us and Them": a beautifully directed, gripping film to cry over

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who enjoys a good cry once in a while watching a movie. I'll admit, I'm quite easily moved to tears at the cinema. But recently it felt like forever since I got to cry over a good, poignant film. Which is precisely why I found 'Us and Them' to be a pleasant surprise. I was shedding silent tears by its ending and stayed up the rest of the night contemplating the message 'Us and Them' conveys: how beautiful yet sorrowful love is - especially the lost sort that we only begin to truly grasp when it's already too late.

This may, at first, look like your average sad romance movie on Netflix, but don't be fooled like I did. The ingenious way this love story is curated (props to the director) truly makes the narrative stand out among its pool of similarly plotted melancholy, tragic romance films.

The movie tells a story of two ex-lovers, Jian-qing and Xiaoxiao, who meet again years after their breakup, by chance - just like their first encounter - on the way back to their hometown. But when their flight gets cancelled due to a blizzard, they inevitably end up sharing a hotel room. As awkward as reunions with your old ex can be, the two engage in awkward chit-chat for a while, but the tête-à-tête soon enough blossoms into sentimental throwbacks to their shared past.

The present-day scenes are in black and white, whereas the flashbacks are illustrated in dazzling color. Episodes of the past are nothing less of mesmerizing, as they capture the relentless passing of time and the love it holds in a color palette of radiant, glowy orange and yellow tones - acutely contrasting to that of the monochrome present-day scenes saturated in a bluish-grey.

Not only is the cinematography impressing, but the film is also creative in its form of storytelling. Although it is mainly the two young lovers telling their story, there is a constant analogy drawn between the protagonists and the characters inside the video game Jian-qing develops. Ian and Kelly are the main characters of Jian-qing's game and the game seems to be based on a plot of Ian trying to 'find' his Kelly. There is a part in the movie when Xiaoxiao asks about the characters in Jian-qing's game.

"What if (in the game) the boy could never find the girl?"

Jian-qing answers by saying:

"If Ian could not find Kelly, then the world would be colorless."


In fact, we can see in the game that Ian's world is indeed colorless - at least for the most part. This was post-breakup of Jian-qing and Xiaoxiao. So naturally, we can couple Ian's colorless world with that of the developer Jian-qing himself. He hasn't found his Kelly - or more accurately, he has lost her. But Ian's world, as well as Jian-qing's, doesn't stay grey forever, as we see them develop color after the overnight reunion when Jian-qing and Xiaoxiao subsequently go about their separate lives.

This may imply several things, but my personal interpretation is that Ian finding Kelly doesn't necessarily equate to him getting to be with her. Although it is evident the real-life Ian and Kelly still love and care for each other, they don't get back together as a couple. Their love is portrayed more in a nostalgic context and I believe that the rather unexpected reunion is what finally brings both of them a sense of closure in their relationship.

Thus, the conversion into color in the closing scenes of the film feels more like a manifestation of a deeper understanding of love than that of love itself. This sense of acceptance - of how their relationship played out and the fact that they still, after all this time, love each other - can also be seen in the game as it blooms into color and its ending statement, so to speak, shows up on the screen: "Ian will always love Kelly."

Yet another prominent voice in the movie is that of Jian-qing's elderly father, who leaves a message for Xiaoxiao before he passes away. This letter, narrated at the end of the movie with a voice-over, beautifully echos the concept of love and destiny that is central to this film.

"About fate, as long as you don't fail each other, that's enough."


In deeply poignant films such as this one, articulating such heart-wrenching emotions is key. In this aspect, the cast of 'Us and Them' does a brilliant job. Zhou Dongyu is amazing in her portrayal of the bright, enthusiastic Xiaoxiao and the process the character undergoes in coming to terms with reality, maturing into a more sensible, perceptive woman. Although petite in appearance, she effectively embodies the strong, independent air of Xiaoxiao.

Jing Boran also proves adept in illustrating both the existential struggles of Jian-qing as the young boy who from time to time finds himself lost in the big city, and his internal frustration of being constantly friend-zoned by someone so near and dear to him (a.k.a. Xiaoxiao). The two actors also showcase a natural on-screen chemistry that chimes with the years-long friendship of their characters.

Overall, 'Us and Them' is a well-made, beautifully directed and scripted film that touches on the concept of fate, companionship, and different kinds of love i.e. parental, family, and romantic in a very practical setting of early 21st century Beijing. Conflicting outlooks on life, success and wealth as young adults trying to make it big in the dynamic city of Beijing oftentimes creates tension on the relationship between Jian-qing and Xiaoxiao. There's also the harsh discrepancy between the ideal city life they dreamed of when first starting off in Beijing and the reality: not even having enough money to sustain a stable life. The hardships they face both in their personal lives and in their romantic relationship isn't at all hard to relate to. Hence, everything - even the sad ending - seems all the more practical and real.

'Us and Them' is currently available on Netflix with English subtitles. If you're up for this beautiful, heartbreaking experience, start streaming! Oh and just as a friendly reminder, I suggest you grab a box of tissues before you jump in ;)

You can watch the official trailer for 'Us and Them' here: