A F I L M B Y

J I A N G W E N

———

IN THE SUN

OF YOUTH

B R I G H T D A Y S

Y O U T H

L I K E

S U N S H I N E

W I L L

N E V E R

F A D E

｜

Those were the dayswhen the sun was hottest,and our heartswere the brightest.

———

1 9 9 5

A U G U S T

2 1

OVERVIEW

IN THE SUN OF YOUTH

Directorial Debut

Jiang Wen's transition from actor to visionary director.

Source Material

Adapted from Wang Shuo's novel Wild Beasts.

Core Theme

A nostalgic exploration of youth and unreliable memory.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

TIN THE SUN OF YOUTH

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

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1970s Beijing

(The Cultural Revolution era).

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"Compound Kids"

(Unique experience of military courtyard youth).

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Unsupervised Youth

(Adults occupied by politics).

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Illusion of Freedom

(A chaotic yet liberating playground).

MA XIAOJUN

TIN THE SUN OF YOUTH

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Ma Xiaojun is the rebellious adolescent protagonist of the film In the Heat of the Sun. Growing up in 1970s Beijing, he is restless, imaginative, and deeply driven by youthful desire and confusion. His story blends memory and fantasy, capturing the chaos and intensity of growing up against a turbulent historical background.

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MILAN & YU BBEIBEI

TIN THE SUN OF YOUTH

Ma Xiaojun’s memories

Milan is the dreamlike, unattainable crush of teenage Ma Xiaojun, a symbol of adult mystery and romantic fantasy. Yu Beibei, by contrast, is bold, outgoing, and the boys’ playful companion, representing the raw, immediate curiosity of youth. Together, they mirror the dual nature of adolescent longing.

CINEMATOGRAGPY

TIN THE SUN OF YOUTH

THE GOLDEN HUE

Cinematography by Gu Changwei. Extensive use of overexposure, warm yellow tones, and backlighting. The aesthetic mimics the hazy, dreamlike nature of summer heat and fading nostalgic memories.

"I can't tell what's imagined and what's real.

My memory is always compromised by my emotions."

— Ma Xiaojun (Voiceover)

THANK YOU!

-

"In the heat of the sun, we all grow up."

Questions & Discussion