Cry Me a Sad River (2018)

I liked it. It was realistic and heartbreaking but no unlike what the title suggests, it did not make me cry a river.

Cry Me a Sad River is a Chinese movie that talks about school violence. I was hesitant to watch it at first since I don't really like to watch anything heavy at the moment but I'm glad I did and it wasn't that heavy. If you're scared and have doubts because of the title (just like me, lol) then don't. It was more of an easy watch despite the sensitive and troubling mood of the show.

Despite the seemingly low budget for the movie, the cinematography was good and has helped the overall mood of the movie. It also came as surprising to know that all actors are newbies and this is their first project. The main actress Ren Min was incredibly outstanding. Her performance deserves to be lauded. She has conveyed properly the emotions of a girl bullied, a girl who is afraid yet took a stand, a girl who hesitates but went all out. Her actions, her facial expressions, body movements and gaze all speak and made the character more interesting yet pitiful and I feel really really bad for her. Sun Yi (Xin Yun Lai) is the man of the show. He gives light and sunshine to the dark theme of the movie. I liked how his character was caring to the female lead and doesn't get swayed by any rumors. He helps Yi Yao fight through her bullies and became her knight and shining armor. I didn't care much about the other characters so I'm only going to talk about these 2 characters.

Overall, I liked what I saw. Though I wish it was longer and didn't cut some scenes. There was a point where I thought Yi Yao was just imagining things because what the have shown are only flashbacks and tidbits of some of the more important scenes esp. the bullying part. Only if they didn't rush things, it could probably be even better. They could make it a 2+hour movie instead of 1hr & 40 min runtime.

Btw, there is a drama version of this already. It is currently airing and stars Zheng Shuang and Ma Tian Yu. I don't know if I have the guts to start it since the 50+ episode scares me, lol. The movie may be a bit short in its run time, but 50 episodes for a drama of this kind are quite long. Even though I liked the film, I'm going to have the 'wait & see' game with the drama version.

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THIS MOVIE WAS SO GOOD

I recommend this movie to everyone. If ur having second thoughts about watching it just watch it, I promise u this movie is good. It was sad and made me cry a lot but was also very eye opening. The acting is super good. The way the actors portray the emotions is just *chefs kiss* WATCH IT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need 500 characters to post this review so don’t mind me I’m just gonna allskdkwowlalsndnfjjeeu ueywiwoaoskdnfnfnjfueueieowoaoldndndnfwkkslslskskwkwkwkwkwklwqllwlwlwlwlwlwkekejfkeoowlwnwndnfjhfueieowlskkdlwoqowieuruytghcjldlsirfuueiwoworuufjcjcnskslwieufueioqoqowoeorirkrk I think this should be good enough

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Why

This film is so good to show people what actually happen in this world. And to make people realize that we need to open our eyes. And this film really makes me sad because I can relate. Not me me but I see this in my school. My best friend gets bullied and it is the worst feeling. I wish I was her cause I watch this happen every day at school I can’t stand that the school can’t do anything like nothing is happening, I just want to be her I can not stand this any longer. I just her being anxious about going to school because of all the ones that are so bad to her. And just like the movie those that hurt her laugh about it it makes me even angrier. And it is not just her they say bad things about other people and everyone can hear and they just laugh about it. Why must this happen why!

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It is such a meaningful movie

I'm a bit hesitant about the choice of the actress because I felt I needed more at some point in the movie.
I love the music choice, and the flow of the plot is just excellent.
I don't think I've watched a lot of movies such as this one.
Bullying is a sensitive topic to talk about, especially in school, but this one elaborated on how bullying isn't something to be underestimated. Anyway, you'll get an accurate concept better when you watch it. But it's a very heart-wrenching movie, so you better prepare yourself. And if you are not into tear-jerkers, you might want to reconsider finishing this movie.

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Best chinese movie I have ever watched!!

Just got done watching it so everything is still fresh in my mind. The acting is great. Even when they had a blank face, you can tell exactly what they were feeling and it was enough to make me cry. This is probably the saddest movie I have ever watched. I ugly cried continuously most of the time. The storyline was so sad. Amazingly directed. I would rewatch this like 50 times straight and still not get bored. I came across this when I was looking for a similar movie to Better Days and I have to say, this is actually better. If you guys watched these and you know more movies or shows like this, PLEASE TELL ME BECAUSE I'M DYING TO FIND ANOTHER ONE. You can really feel all the emotion building up from the start of the movie to the point she killed herself. It was really realistic too. When she realized she had something against her bully who leaked her secret to everyone, she actually threatened to tell everyone. In most other movies, they would say something stupid like "Don't worry, I won't tell. I won't stoop as low as you" but this was way better. I feel like all of us would've at least scared the bully by threatening to tell everyone just like she did in the movie. This was the best thing my eyes have ever witnessed and everyone should watch it ASAP.

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Beautiful cinematography and great message, but a little overdramatic

This was almost the perfect melodrama. I really loved the way they portrayed differing worldviews between different characters based on different upbringings.

The relationship between the FL and SML were undoubtedly the best part of this movie; I kind of wish they'd have gone more into that because it was short-lived and kind of one-sided. Other than that, the SFL also was a really great character and I also wish she got more screentime. The pacing overall was okay, but plot points aren't really explained much. This movie is more about the feeling.

The anti-bullying message was really powerful, but I kind of wish it didn't get so explicitly didactic near the end of the movie with all the political and legal references.

With that being said, I think sometimes the way the movie was filmed really felt just a tad bit over-the-top, with monologues that were beautiful but so literary sometimes it kind of took me out of the movie because "who talks like that?" Other than that, the filmography is pretty great; there's a lot of time dedicated to montages and stuff though, so if you like a more in-the-scene sort of movie, this isn't it.

I really liked the ending (unfortunately I didn't really cry at all) but overall this was a decent watch.

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an eyeopener on the school bullying

●HOW I CAME TO IT
I rewatched this movie and it as the same feeling when I first watched it.
I am writing this review to to make my heart hurt less.
I am overwhelmed with the movies deep trance. For a few minutes I was like what happened. It made a huge emotional impact on me.

●PLOT VIEW
A young school girl who took such a huge step, was it easy for her NO. She feared it too but then life was more painful to her. The abandonment from family, the social ostracization, name calling and murder suspect. With each passing day she struggled hard and reaches out to everyone in the climax river scene who just stood there as passive bystanders in the past and now too.
Mother daughter transitioned relationship was terrific. At the same time qi ming who lived next door, and his happy life gives a great juxtapose with a rich and happy with poor and cold family.
The one childhood friend who talked to her got washed away in the lies and rumors. no one trusted her. he see her fighting back, but where is he when she got stepped on by the bullies.
That friendship among the crowd of bullies is another emotional undertone. She was strengthened but at last she loses that one ray of hope in her life.
Our society thinks, oh she is a school girl what problems could she have. But the same society doesn’t accept us if we don’t have good background or rich parents. If one gets a mental health problem or any kind of disease, people view them as untouchable felonies.

●ACTIING/CAST
Ren Min as yi yao aced her role, with her innocent face and deep eye expression.
Xin Yun Lai as gu sen xi is fresh and upbeat character in the gloomy movie. He really stands out.
Zhao Ying Bo as qi ming as childhood friend seemed nice, he gives his vibes of friendliness nicely.
Vivian wu as the ignorant mother was an ace too. She is like a huge pillar in support of a building.

●REWATCH
I rewatched it and liked it more than the first time.

●APPRECIATION
The cinematography is amazing. The use of lightening, the standout uniform, each scene is bewitching.

●CRITICISM
Where was the school administration when all the bullying was happening. Isn't it a school obligation to give a safe environment to all the students. school also put the blind eye to all the bullying and instead turned her into a guilty for fighting, please do a proper investigation for gods sake.
The parents bully kids should also have kept their eyes open on what there kids are upto. No body is born bully, but what leads them to doing so is. We sympathize with the victim but lets also take a peek on bully and give them an enlightenment on what's wrong and right.

●QUOTES
Death is not painful. Life is. - YI YAO
They know you’re afraid and they are excited. Your fear is the stimulus. You need to fight. Eye on eye. Teeth on teeth. - GU SEN XI

●AFTERTHOUGHT
The movie is sad and depressing reflecting the social norms of the society. Its dark yet realistic movie. Its incredible poignant representation might leave soul stirring impact so if weak hearted avoid it.

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This is a sad but good movie.

I have watched the series version with Zheng Shuang and Ma Tian Yu and I really enjoyed watching the story as well.
Both the movie and series deal with a difficult and more mature issue, such as bullying, divorce and suicide (Not your typical c-drama romance topic). The actors and actresses I thought portrayed their roles well, especially the movie version. It's like you can feel her heartache and sorrow just by looking at her eyes.

This movie (and the series) are not for everyone, but if you like a "darker" drama theme, I would definitely recommend watching the movie and the series.

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too much emotional

my favourite actor died so for me it had a sad ending but can't say it had happy ending . The main character to whom story revolved got justice at the end . Due to one incident the whole life of some characters of the drama had changed . They went to deep sadness this had been shown at the end of the story . it was very emotional and touchy story . I had cried at watching some scenes of the movie.
acting by the actors were good .
must watch it .
How bullying destroyed the life of student this was an important part of the story . Jealousy leads to destruction this also been shown in the movie.

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I really cried a river?

All I gotta say is damn. this was sad and heartbreaking. i never experienced bullying myself but seeing this movie really shows that there are people experiencing the same as well and i'm very fortunate that i've met good people. I felt really bad for Yi Yao for what she had to go through and I was expecting something good outta Qi Ming but turns out this dude is just a coward who doesn't want to get involved with a diseased girl. Sunxi is an amazing character. He stood by her side no matter what even when people said she was the "murderer" he knew and believed her throughout the end. Even Qi Ming didn't believe her and he was supposed to be her friend who he knew since they were kids. When Yi Yao needed Qi Ming he wasn't there for her, which shows no matter how long you've known a friend they can wholeheartedly betray/leave you in a second.

Anyways this movie is really good. I cried a lot and I watched this at 2AM so I'm worried that my eyes might be puffy the next day lol. But yeah I recommend if you're ready to cry or if u want to understand how bullying can affect a person's life.

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WARNING: Do not watch this movie by yourself, unless you have one and a half boxes of tissue handy!

I did like this movie over Middle Student A, but the director, Luo Luo, left a few unanswered questions at the end of this one.

WARNING: Do not watch this movie by yourself, unless you have on and a half boxes of tissue handy!

(I just LOVE the idiots who 'edit' movies like this, trying to change the outcome or such; I originally wrote this review after seeing the 1 hr, 34 min version of this movie online; however, after finding the full movie of 1:43, a few of the dandling ends were found!)

First of all, my compliments to the director for taking a chance on so many new faces in making a movie like this; only one of the support females had any experience in movies prior.

I also want to give a compliment to Vivian Wu the veteran actress who played Yi Yao's mother, Lin Huo Feng; if i had a way of contacting her, I would like to ask her if her response after finding out how her daughter got her 'ailment' was improvised or not. Her response was something that a veteran actress would have improvised if it was not in the script!

She played a great support role in this movie; turning her daughter away when she thought the kid just wanted new things, but became a very caring mother after finding out the real need for the money! I do not blame mother one bit in telling her to wear last year's uniform to school. I also understand her asking Yi Yao not to come around at her place of work.

I don't see her mother as being ashamed of her, as much as I see the mother being ashamed of what life has given her after losing her middle-class family life when Yi Yao was younger.

My main criticism of this movie is so many unanswered questions at the end that were left dangling or not answered at all.

Young school girl Yi Yao (Ren Min) went from being part of a middle-class family (shown through a flashback) to going up with a mother struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table for the two of them. Luo Luo could have added a minute or two on the movie in explaining what befell the two females.

The next-door neighbor boy in the same grade, Qi Ming (Zhao Ying Bo) was nice to her and fed her and looked after her, even stealing for her. However, Qi Ming is also cute and also a model student at the top of his class.

Everything was on a level where most situations could be handled; but the movie needed some adversary to happen!

Two twins, [Gu} Sen Xi (Xin Yun Lai) and his twin sister [Gu] Sen Xiang (Zhang Ruo Nan,) appear at Yi Yao's school; Sen Xiang has been seen by Yi Yao before, but she denies it.

However, Sen Xiang develops a crush on Qi Ming, and follows Yi Yao to a shady part of town, and stats a vicious rumor about the young girl who is struggling inside already.

In dealing with wife and child abuse, those who have been 'abused' in the past are those who continue the cycle of abuse; while Sen Xi tries to start a relationship with Yi Yao, his movie sister reinforces her inner struggles the only way she knows how, and Yi Yao is her victim! Others join in on what they think is easy fun!

However, Sen Xi teaches Yi Yao to stand up for herself, and the students get some of their own medicine back!

Unfortunately, things get worse for Yi Yao!

I liked the topic being addressed by a mainstream movie, but I wish the characters would have been developed better; another 10-15 minutes could have meant a better movie!

The main characters I felt actually acted as if they were high school students and the chemistry, for so little time together were good!

The support cast made the main cast look good and made the movie flow well, as in real life! I already complimented the senior actress Vivian Wu for their support role!

The movie has a couple of "twists" in it that I didn't see coming; I will let you find those out yourself!

For a brief moment after the mother pays for her ailment to be healed, Yi Yao can hold her head up proudly at school, knowing her mother's true feelings about her, and she witnesses one of the students who bullied her get the same treatment; but of course, this is the calm before the storm!

Th ending really sucked! Much is basically left up in the air.

First, whether or not Yi Yao dies is a question that most people watching this movie want to know later. I even had to refer to the original manga to find out myself.

The tables are turned on one of the main female characters near the end of the movie and it does not really give any setup for what happened, and the followup that happened (if you blink, you will miss it!)

I was able to hold my tears until the speech Yi Yao gives Qi Ming after the class trip to the museum (1:05:00 on), where she told him that she wanted to be one of the girls who used tampons with scent (not generic!)...i grew up as poor as Yi Yao did, and I know where she is coming from!

No reason is given for the death of one of the main female leads near the end of the movie; as I said, another 10-15 minutes could have answered this question for all!

Other unresolved plot twists with no further info:

Near the end of the movie, Sen Xi tells Yi Yao that his sister Sen Xiang is going to Australia as an exchange student for the next three months;

The parents of Qi Ming are devastated by the death of one of the female leads right after that...was Qi Ming 'connected" to her in any way, or was he the reason she was going to Australia as an exchange student?

(Actually, I was glad that Qi Ming's mother got taken down a notch or two.)

Why did anyone suspect Yi Yao as being involved with the death of the other female lead? The only clue was someone dragging a pipe on the concrete; Yi Yao didn't need a pipe to whoop another female's butt if it needed whooping!

The other person who was listed as a main female cast member Tang Xiao Mi (Zhu Dan Ni, who wasn't a main cast member, since she didn't show up until the last few scenes of the movie) received a phone call about the time of the death; only one other very brief screen mentions this as the credits are rolling!)...was she the one that killed the other female lead, and why?

It showed a news reel of " Tang, less than eighteen years old, committed the crime..." Did she kill the other female lead?

This could have easily been a '10' movie, but there were so many unanswered questions at the end before the credits rolled.

I cried again when Yi Yao was attempting to scrub the graffiti off the concrete and crying - though I don't know what the graffiti said!

Why did Yi Yaos' mother move out of the ghetto? How did Yi Yao's mother move out of the ghetto? Was it with the money she was saving for Yi Yao?

Sen Xi changed schools; did he move somewhere in China? Or did he take his sister's place as the exchange student?

Did Yi Yao die? Or did Sen Xi talk to a ghost in the end?

Did the ghost of Yi Yao smile at the sight of Qi Ming in the last scene?

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