Growing up in Asia isn’t too different as the rest of the world, but it often comes with vibrant cultural obligations and extreme familial expectations. As identity emerges, so does romance, inevitable and awkward, tender like it’s just woken from winter’s rest.
Asian cinema has a beautiful gift for capturing these formative years with grace, honesty, and subtle bitterness. Every transition in the frame is filled with its own poetic beauty. We see the stars growing and finding their voice, testing their new freedom while still tethering to dreams and expectations and a reality that is beyond their control.
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Characters learning to walk the tightrope between doing what is expected of them andchasing what their heart desires always make for a compelling drama. From families trying to protect you to understanding to pressures life throws at you to finally standing your own – it all gets a little too overwhelming. And yet, beneath it all, beats the relentless drum of youth, pulsing with longing, doubt, rebellion, and passion.
These coming-of-age romances revolve around the dreamlike, almost melancholic feeling of falling in love for the first time and reminiscing about a childhood that was full of joy and care. Every awkward fumble the 13-year-olds make to every tender moment the 20-somethings share in the dark, represents innocence slipping through fingers. Very beautifully, these Asian romances capture the haze of adolescence and all its promises of forever.
20Better Days (2019)
Chen Nien has been bullied all her life – at school, by her friends. Xiao Bei is a cast-out teenager who’s living off as a small-time criminal. When the two stumble upon one another, Chen Nien finds an unlikely bond with Xiao Bei. But things become worse when the pair is suspected of the murder of a classmate, who was apparently going to sit with Chen Nien for the National College Entrance Exam. Derek Tsang’s Academy Award-nominated movieBetter Daysdoes not just focus on the story of the two kids, but on the arduous education system in China, and how growing up under pressure can shape you into becoming the most vulnerable version of yourself. Tsang uses social consciousness to evoke all sorts of emotions, and the dark, gloomy cinematography serves as a metaphor for what goes inside the youth.
19Our Times (2015)
Our Timesis a classic coming-of-age story that made fans swoon back when it came out, the Taiwanese film follows Truly Lin, a working adult who revisits her past and the memorable time she had with TaiYu. Going 20 yeas back, in high school, Lin was pretty average and all she wanted was a chance to be with the most popular guy at school, who is already dating the golden girl (all of which makes her highly relatable). To get her way, Lin teams up with Taiyu and together, they try to break the couple up. However, they end up falling for each other instead. The movie chronicles their school life and them growing up to be adults. It is well-cast, beautifully written and has all the elements that make a teen romance better.
18Lakshya (2004)
Growing up cannot be portrayed in a more intense way.Lakshyais the story of Karan Shergill, a carefree 20-something who doesn’t really have an aim in life. In contrast, his childhood best friend and eventual girlfriend, Romila Dutta, is a driven woman who wants to become a journalist. Karan joins the Indian Army on a whim but leaves when he faces the harsh training sessions, disappointing her family and girlfriend, leading him to re-enlist and prove himself worthy. Directed by Farhan Akhtar,Lakshyaportrays the turbulences of growing up in an authentic, sensitive, and thought-provoking manner, allagainst the backdrop of the 1999 Kargil War. What makes it even more entertaining to watch is the incredible soundtrack given by Shankar Mahadevan.
17My Best Summer (2019)
Chance encounters that become the most significant parts of your life are probably the ones that shape you better. Geng Geng is as ordinary as teenage girls come until she joins the best high school in the province. Trying to fit in doesn’t come easy to her but when she befriends Yu Huai, the two have the most memorable summer. Regardless of the rushed storyline,My Best Summermanages to create poignant sentiments around love, longing, and heartbreak. The end credits scene also includes clipping of personal interviews of people from all walks of life, sharing their experiences on youth. Moreover, in all its innocence, it teaches the importance of choosing the people that stay in your life.
16SuckSeed (2011)
Mixing music with coming-of-agemakes it even more exciting to watch. At its core,SuckSeedis a band story, but when you look deeper, you notice themes of adolescent desires, finding a purpose in life, and trying to be the everyman in situations that demand likability. Ped is an introvert with no particular taste for music, and Ern is his childhood crush and the girl responsible for getting him to start a Rock n Roll band. Six years after having drifted apart, Ped and Ern are brought together when four friends navigate feelings, musical talents, and the pains of growing up. SuckSeed has an irresistible charm to its depiction of the underdog spirit, and while the kids may go over the top quite often, it’s all exuberant and empathetic.
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15Tamasha (2015)
What happens in Corsica, stays in Corsica. That’s the pact Ved and Tara make when they accidentally meet on a holiday in France. The two decide to spend a week together, without revealing anything to one another about their lives – not even their real names. What may have been the warmest and sincerest seven days of their existence soon diminishes into nothing when they return to their respective cities. Four years later, Tara finds Ved in Delhi, and the feelings she long repressed come rushing back.Tamashamay have a predictable narrative, but Imtiaz Ali envelops it with layered emotions, complex characters, and flawed circumstances. With its catchy numbers, sharp dialogue, and groundbreaking performances from Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone,Tamashamakes for a great watch.
14Gully Boy (2019)
Directed by one of the best female directors in the industry, Zoya Akhtar,Gully Boyis a coming-of-age musical drama set against the backdrop of Mumbai slums and fantastic rap battles. Murad is an underdog struggling to make it big as a rapper. And while his dysfunctional family isn’t supportive of his dreams, his girlfriend Safeena is all but willing to go to great lengths to break free of constraints of the society. When a local rapper Shrikant, or MC Sher, gives him the stage, Murad sure delivers. Between the streets of Dhraravi lies thisstory of ambition, anger, empowerment, and chasing one’s dreams, no matter how far-fetched they seem.
13My Love (2021)
This 2021 entry is an instant favorite for fans of Chinese rom-com.My Loveis another coming-of-age film directed and co-written by Han Tian, and it is a saccharine sweet story about unrequited love and pining spanned across 15 years. Zhou Xiaoqi is in love with his high school classmate You Yongci. Unafraid of taking the chance, he confesses his feelings to her, but school ends, and she disappears without a word. Now all grown up, Xiaoqi is invited to her wedding and he realizes he still loves her. Greg Hsu and Zhang Ruonan have incredible chemistry, and they bring out the ignorance and sentimentality of first love with great care. The movie, like its original,On Your Wedding Day, also has a gorgeous OST.
12A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
Set in the turbulent times in 1960s Taiwan,A Brighter Summer Dayis based on a true story about two youth gangs and the violence that erupts when members of the gang get involved with one another. 14-year-old Si’r is an odd fellow who begins catching feelings for Ming, the leader of a formidable gang in the area. As the two spend more time together, Si’r is drawn towards the brutal and vicious gang life, unaware of the consequences. Directed by Edward Yang, the movie uses historical context to its advantage and createstension around young love and friendshipsin a world where there is a lack of security and the future is laced with apprehension. It also hashes out a devastating street murder that reshaped the destinies of many residing in China and Taiwan.
11Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Dil Chahta Haiis a heartwarming story about three inseparable childhood friends, fresh out of college, each seeking a purpose in life. Akash, Sameer, and Siddharth are complete opposites. While one is the rich kid with a business waiting to be handed out to him, another is a zoned out, self absorbed artists saving himself for materialistic pleasures. The three friends, however, share their common desire for finding love. And when they do so in the most unexpected places with the most unconventional people, drama ensues. Despite being three hours long, the movie never drags out its scenes, stays visually compelling throughout, and fresh love story laced with humor for each of the main characters.
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