She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones

Receiving the Berlinale’s Generation 14plus Special Mention, this playful and poetic coming-of-age story follows the intertwined lives of two Chinese students.

Laid-back, late-blooming high schooler Zhuang is eager to impress his classmate Meng, a talented long-distance runner who has caught his attention. Hoping to win her affection, he spontaneously takes the blame for her theft of a starter pistol, only to get the cold shoulder. Undeterred, Zhuang joins Meng’s track team, biding his time to surprise his crush with a gesture he hopes will win her over.

This delightfully charming debut feature from award-winning Chinese director Qu Youjia evokes the blush of young romance against the pressures of preparing for university within a rigid education system, in which the demands of study and the expectations of parents can complicate an already-confusing time of life. Brimming with tender performances and a charming sense of the everyday, this sweetly perceptive coming-of-age film will inspire you to chase after that which has captured your heart.