Suddenly Seventeen: My Favorite Film

Movie poster. Google images.

"Like the previous 3656 days, before he wakes up, I put on my best face" - was the first line in my favorite Chinese film Suddenly Seventeen. For someone who has not seen it yet, it may sound dreadful. But Liang, Ni Ni’s character in the movie uttered it with such happiness and contentment. I chose this film because I can relate to the main character. It’s not that I ate a magical chocolate to become seventeen years old again or was trying to win a man’s affection back whom she has been with for ten years, only to break up with her. It just reminded me of the deal I struck with my seventeen year old self. Back then, I was a fourth year graduating high school student weighing my options. I decided not to pursue writing professionally for several reasons i.e. economic reasons, my lack of experience in the school paper and writing contests, etc, and therefore, chose my second more feasible college degree of choice. I figured I can still continue writing leisurely, as a hobby. It was a win-win situation, a lucrative offer from my sensible conscience.

But over the years, I got busy with my job and lost time, topics and the energy to write. In short, I lost interest, like big Liang in the film who focused more on her romantic relationship and lost her artistic touch. The process of choosing my favorite Chinese film felt like I had eaten a magical chocolate and had to be seventeen suddenly as well. Little Liang was carefree and knew how to draw inspiration and channel it through art unlike the monotonous and uptight big Liang. Even in choosing a favorite film for this essay writing contest seemed like I was being big Liang thinking hard of an award winning epic film to write about - to impress, in my case, the readers. Uptight, that is. Also, moving abroad to work, I have become so much comfortable with my routine and schedule that breaking out of it seemed like a struggle. It was a dragging monotony. I had to reconnect to the young, driven and optimistic me who believes that I can be fun and sensible at the same time.

Seventeen year old Liang doing a selfie.

The message of the film is to learn to find balance in our lives and to not forget our goals – to ask ourselves what are we doing these things for.

Not all life’s best lessons are learned from melodramatic films or movie adaptations. This light hearted funny film showed well how important it is to be youthful and mature. I get that there is nothing wrong with being hardworking, or prioritizing a loved one just like Liang in the film. The message of the film is to learn to find balance in our lives and to not forget our goals – to ask ourselves what are we doing these things for. The magical chocolate is a funny take on a woman going through a crossroad. It is a constant battle to discover new interests, maintain old hobbies at the same time work hard to sustain all of it. Towards the last part of the movie, seventeen year old Liang told her twenty eight year old self not to worry for she will not leave her, to just listen to the small voice inside her if she needs her. That’s what I did and will do again if I need to.

Note:  This was originally an entry for an essay writing contest of a local paper, but was not published.