Children of Troubled Times: A Poet in a War Zone

Is it worth the watch?

If you like movies that feel a bit disjointed and moody, sure. You’ll probably dig this if you have a soft spot for character-driven war stories that don't just focus on the trenches. If you want something tight, fast, and constantly logical, you’ll likely hate it. It’s got that specific, wandering energy that makes you feel like you’re reading someone’s diary during a messy decade.

The transition from Shanghai to Qingdao feels like a blink. One minute we’re dealing with the chaos of fleeing, and the next, we’re watching our protagonist, Xin Baihe, get wrapped up in a romance that feels entirely too comfortable for the era. It’s a strange shift. It feels like two different movies taped together in the middle.

Poets and Resistance

Xin Baihe is... well, he’s kind of a drag for the first half. He’s all about his feelings and his new flame, and you’re just sitting there waiting for him to actually do something. It’s frustrating. But then, he gets the news about Liang. That scene? It’s not flashy, but the way the color seems to drain out of his face—you can tell that’s the moment the movie finally starts for real.

I couldn't help but think about The Heart of a Girl while watching this. Both films have that same preoccupation with how young people try to keep their personal lives afloat when the world outside is literally falling to pieces. It’s messy business.

• The Qingdao scenery is honestly gorgeous.
• Some of the dialogue hits like a brick, but sometimes it just floats away.
• I still don't know what happened to that one character in the background of the station scene.

The pacing is all over the place. It stops when you want it to go, and rushes when you want a moment to breathe. There’s a scene where Xin just stares at the ocean that lasts maybe five seconds too long. It feels weirdly awkward, but it also kind of works. It captures the aimlessness of a guy who doesn't know who he is anymore.

Look, it’s not a masterpiece. It’s an uneven, sometimes frustrating, occasionally beautiful look at a guy who spends too long looking the other way. It feels real because it doesn't try to make him a hero right from the jump. He’s just a poet who finally grew up, and that’s enough for me. 🎥