While romantic comedies are often premised around exaggerated stereotypes, they can still be quite insightful in learning what values various cultures hold toward dating and relationships.

New to the dating game in China? Here are 6 Mandarin-language movies that will help you navigate the nuances of romance in the country. You might even step up your flirting game and impress the socks off that 帅哥or 美女on the Beijing subway.

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我的少女时代 | Our Times

Lin Cheng-hsin is your typical high school dork who spends her days hopelessly obsessing over Ouyang Fei-fan, the most popular guy in school. Through a series of mishaps, she is roped into being an ‘errand girl’ for the school’s most notorious bad boy, Hsu Tai-yu. Soon after, Lin learns that Ouyang is secretly dating Tao Min-min, who is coincidentally Hsu’s love interest. With this knowledge in hand, Lin then forms an alliance with Hsu and they embark on a mission to split this secret couple apart.

Part romcom, part coming-of-age drama (though rather light on true drama), Our Times is a pure throwback to 1990s Taiwanese adolescence and references to pop culture of the time are scattered throughout. The on-screen chemistry between female lead Vivian Sung and male lead Darren Wang is on point and the film includes plenty of quirky Taiwanese cute. As a bonus, Chinese pop idol Andy Lau makes a guest appearance!

#comingofage #younglove #highschool #cute #andylau

夏洛特烦恼 | Goodbye Mr. Loser

What would you do differently if your life had a reset button? This thought experiment becomes a reality for unemployed and unhappily married Xia Luo after passing out drunk at the wedding of his old high school crush, Qiu Ya. Upon opening his eyes, he finds himself transported back to high school. Thinking it’s just a dream, Xia decides to have some fun and concludes his shenanigans by jumping out of the classroom window. Only when he wakes up again, he finds himself not back at the wedding reception, but in a hospital bed with a broken leg.

Goodbye Mr. Loser is very reminiscent of the 1986 Coppola film, Peggy Sue Got Married (in fact, its directors got flak for seemingly plagiarizing the plot. They deny these allegations). Nevertheless, it is a hilariously creative movie (in its own right) and though it sides itself on the zanier end of comedy, it has an important message to tell: the grass is not always greener on the other side.

#youngagain #doover #highschool #lessons

所以, 我和黑粉结婚了 | So, I Married an Anti-Fan

Fang Miao Miao is an entertainment reporter for a magazine in Shanghai. While on one of her beats, she catches Korean popstar Hoo Joon at a nightclub with fellow star Ai Lin getting romantic at a nightclub and snaps a few pictures for publication. However, Hoo catches her in the act and demands that she delete them (he’s dating someone else, so publication would mean trouble). When Fang refuses to comply, he smashes her phone and pulls some strings to get her fired from her job. In retaliation, she gears herself up with picket signs and spray paint and begins publicly protesting his every movement. Fang’s antics garner a fair amount of attention which gives Hoo’s management team a brilliant idea: create a reality TV show where the two – celebrity and ‘anti’ fan – are forced to live together.

So, I Married an Anti-Fan does not claim to reinvent the wheel of romantic comedies. Though it can often be transparent in direction, it’s a fun movie with enough twists and turns to captivate your attention. Also, if you’re into anything Korean, you’ll appreciate the amount of screen time given to real life K-pop star Park Chanyeol!

#oppositesattract ##koreanidol #drama

明天记得爱上我 | Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Wei-chung is living a seemingly comfortable life: he is married going on 9 years and has a stable job at an eye glass shop. One day, during the wedding reception of his younger sister, Wei bumps into a blast from his gay past which causes years of repressed feelings to suddenly come back to light. Confused, but interested in exploring his sexuality, he starts to lead a double life, while keeping this a secret from his wife and friends.

Taiwan has been at the forefront of gay rights in Asia, recently passing legislation to pave the way for legalized gay marriage on the island. Preceding this policy change by a few years, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? attempts to normalize the view of homosexuality in Taiwan. While the movie is about coming to terms with one’s self, it also follows a B-plot about Wei’s sister’s hesitation to get married, and ultimately is a story about life’s surprises.

#lgbtq #comingout #midlifecrisis #lifessuprises

情圣 | Some Like It Hot

Xia Dongsheng leads a boring life as a photographer for a marketing agency until the unexpected death of his best friend shocks him into a mid-life crisis. Desperate to reclaim his youth, he enlists his remaining friends on a conquest to sleep with one of his company’s newest clients, a young Korean model named Yoyo, while trying to keep his wife in the dark of his devious plans.

Some Like It Hot is Mainland China’s answer to American ‘bro’ movies. While the premise itself is not super original or even thought-provoking, it does show another side of Chinese humor that many non-Chinese audiences do not usually see and you’ll be laughing the full way through.

#brocomedy #raunchy #midlifecrisis #koreanidol

南方小羊牧場 | When a Wolf Falls in Love with a Sheep

Tung works a dead-end job at a copy shop that specializes in delivering exam packets to nearby cram schools. On top of that, his girlfriend broke up with him via post-it note, and he spends his time daydreaming of getting back together with her. One day, he notices a sheep drawn over a piece of paper he’s supposed to copy. Intrigued, he sets out to find the original artist by drawing a wolf in response.

You know those American indie movies with picturesque cinematography set to a folk-inspired sound track? When a Wolf Falls in Love with a Sheep is Taiwan’s response. The plot itself can be a little slow and there is not a whole lot of drama or tension between any of the cast members, but that’s what makes it so great to watch! It’s cute, clever, and just an all-around beautiful film.

#indie #artsy #younglove #cute

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Have any other noteworthy recommendations? Let us know in the comments below!