Summer Knight
夏夜骑士

Plaza Mayor Company presents the soundtrack for Summer Knight ( 夏夜骑士 ), Music by Min He ( 何美臻 )

Plaza Mayor Company presents the soundtrack for Summer Knight ( 夏夜骑士 ), Music by Min He ( 何美臻 )

Summer, 1996. In a small community in South West China, an 8 year old tries to capture the thief responsible for stealing his grandma’s bike and enters the moral quandary for the first time.

The nostalgic drama plays within a modest Chinese family. Tian-Tian’s mother is abroad in Japan to provide a living for her parents, brother, and son at home. Director You Xing presents a sensitive and quiet coming-of-age story. Unlike other movies of that genre, his approach suppresses the energy of its young protagonists. There is no explosive climax or rebellious uprising. The acting of the main characters seems calculated and almost stiff, which is somewhat contrary to the otherwise realistic style of the film.

“Summer Knight” includes three generations. Grandparents, parents, and grandchildren. By focusing on their interactions, we get to see the inner life of the family structure. A major aspect of the plot is the topic of expectations. Grandparents set high hopes for their offspring and try to intervene in their life. These ambitions are not always met from the children, which results in disappointment. At the same time, “Summer Knight” does not only tell a coming-of-age story but also a story about coming to terms with age. Grandpa Li has to deal with the fact that he is not as savage as he used to be. He is not out for trouble and is fighting with inner demons, sickness and addiction. That’s why the plot is provided with a complex field of themes and exceeds the sole representation of Tian-Tian’s daily life as a schooler.

The cast is a good mix of known actors and debutants. Ludi Lin, known from “Aquaman” (2018), gives a strong performance as an ex-army uncle of Tian-Tian.
His character is rather mysterious with a dark backstory that the movie keeps secret. Huang Lu is a prominent Chinese actress, who made her debut in Li Yang’s “Blind Mountain” in 2007. Here, she has only a small role as the local teacher. Lingchen Ji is widely unknown but very promising as a slacker who gets helped by the old Mr. Li.
The debutante actor who plays Tian-Tian is the main attraction of the cast. He carries the film and harmonizes with the rest of the cast.

( - Plaza Mayor Company ltd - )

Summer Knight 夏夜骑士
Director 尤行 – Xing You
Music by 何美臻 – Min He
Label Plaza Mayor Company Ltd

More info at: Official Web Site First Film