Introduction to the Film “Someday or One Day”

“Someday or One Day” (Chinese: 想见你) is a 2022 Taiwanese romantic fantasy film directed by Tseng Ying-hao and Huang Tien-jen. It serves as a cinematic sequel to the highly acclaimed 2019 television series of the same name. The film continues the story of time-traveling love, mystery, and identity, blending elements of romance, thriller, and supernatural drama. Set against the backdrop of 1998 and 2019, the narrative explores themes of memory, loss, and the enduring power of love across timelines. This article provides detailed English introductions to the key characters and an in-depth analysis of the plot, complete with examples to illustrate the complex narrative structure.

Key Characters: English Introductions

The film features a small ensemble cast, with the protagonists navigating dual timelines. Below are detailed introductions to the main characters, including their backgrounds, motivations, and roles in the story.

1. Huang Yu-xuan (played by Kuo Shu-yao)

  • Background: Huang Yu-xuan is a 27-year-old music teacher in 2019. She is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, Li Zi-wei, who died in a car accident. Yu-xuan is intelligent, sensitive, and deeply emotional, often haunted by memories of her past life. In the film, she discovers that she can travel back in time to 1998 by listening to a specific song on a cassette tape, where she inhabits the body of Chen Yun-ru, a high school student.
  • Motivation: Her primary drive is to save Li Zi-wei from his tragic fate. She believes that by altering events in the past, she can prevent his death in the future. This motivation stems from her profound love and guilt, as she feels responsible for not being able to protect him.
  • Role in the Story: Yu-xuan serves as the emotional core of the film. Her time-traveling actions create ripples that affect the entire timeline. For example, in one scene, she warns Li Zi-wei about the car accident in 1998, but this warning inadvertently leads to a different set of events that still result in his death in 2019. Her character arc explores the theme of whether love can truly change destiny.

2. Li Zi-wei (played by Greg Hsu)

  • Background: Li Zi-wei is a 28-year-old police officer in 2019, working on a cold case involving a series of murders. He is pragmatic, brave, and haunted by his own past, including the death of his best friend, Chen Yun-ru, in 1998. In 1998, he is a high school student who is secretly in love with Chen Yun-ru but struggles with his feelings due to his reserved personality.
  • Motivation: In 2019, his motivation is to solve the murder case that has plagued him for years, which is connected to his past. In 1998, he is driven by his unspoken love for Chen Yun-ru and a desire to protect her from danger. His dual motivations across timelines highlight his internal conflict between duty and emotion.
  • Role in the Story: Li Zi-wei is the anchor of the mystery plot. His investigation in 2019 uncovers clues that link to the events in 1998, creating a loop of cause and effect. For instance, his discovery of a cassette tape in 2019 leads him to the same song that triggers time travel, forcing him to confront his past. His character embodies the theme of redemption, as he seeks to correct past mistakes.

3. Chen Yun-ru (played by Kuo Shu-yao)

  • Background: Chen Yun-ru is a 17-year-old high school student in 1998. She is cheerful, artistic, and loves music, but she carries a secret: she is actually Huang Yu-xuan from 2019, who has traveled back in time. In her original 1998 self, she is a shy girl with a crush on Li Zi-wei, but her personality changes when Yu-xuan inhabits her body.
  • Motivation: As Chen Yun-ru, her motivation is to experience life and love in the past, but when Yu-xuan takes over, the motivation shifts to saving Li Zi-wei. This duality creates tension, as Yu-xuan must navigate Chen Yun-ru’s relationships and memories while pursuing her own goal.
  • Role in the Story: Chen Yun-ru’s body is the vessel for time travel, symbolizing the intersection of past and present. Her character highlights the theme of identity—when Yu-xuan is in her body, she must act like a 1998 teenager, leading to humorous and poignant moments. For example, in one scene, Yu-xuan (as Chen Yun-ru) tries to use modern slang in 1998, which confuses her classmates and adds a layer of comedy to the drama.

4. Wang Quan-sheng (played by Patrick Shih)

  • Background: Wang Quan-sheng is a 17-year-old high school student in 1998 and a close friend of Chen Yun-ru and Li Zi-wei. He is outgoing, loyal, and has a crush on Chen Yun-ru. In 2019, he is a successful businessman, but he remains connected to the past through his memories and the unresolved mystery of Chen Yun-ru’s death.
  • Motivation: In 1998, his motivation is to protect his friends and express his feelings for Chen Yun-ru. In 2019, he is motivated by a desire to uncover the truth about what happened in the past, as he feels guilty for not being able to save Chen Yun-ru.
  • Role in the Story: Wang Quan-sheng acts as a supporting character who provides comic relief and emotional support. His unrequited love for Chen Yun-ru adds a layer of tragedy to the story. In the film, he becomes a key witness to events in 1998, and his testimony in 2019 helps Li Zi-wei piece together the puzzle. For example, he recalls a specific incident where Chen Yun-ru acted strangely, which clues Li Zi-wei into the time-travel phenomenon.

5. Mo Jun-jie (played by Wei Yi-bo)

  • Background: Mo Jun-jie is a mysterious figure who appears in both 1998 and 2019. In 1998, he is a transfer student who seems to know more than he lets on. In 2019, he is a shadowy antagonist involved in the murders. His true identity is revealed to be connected to the time-travel mechanism.
  • Motivation: His motivation is to control the timeline for his own gain, using the time-travel device to manipulate events. He represents the dark side of time travel, where power corrupts.
  • Role in the Story: Mo Jun-jie is the primary antagonist, driving the thriller elements of the plot. His actions create obstacles for the protagonists, forcing them to confront the consequences of altering time. For instance, he sabotages Li Zi-wei’s investigation in 2019 by planting false evidence, which leads to a climactic confrontation in the past.

Plot Analysis: A Detailed Breakdown

The plot of “Someday or One Day” is a complex tapestry of time loops, parallel timelines, and emotional revelations. It builds on the TV series but stands alone as a film, focusing on a specific arc where Yu-xuan and Li Zi-wei attempt to break the cycle of tragedy. Below is a step-by-step analysis of the plot, divided into key sections, with examples to illustrate each point.

Section 1: The Setup – Dual Timelines and the Time-Travel Mechanism

The film opens in 2019, where Huang Yu-xuan is struggling with grief after Li Zi-wei’s death. She discovers an old cassette tape with the song “Someday or One Day” by Taiwanese singer Oaeen. When she plays it, she is transported back to 1998, inhabiting the body of Chen Yun-ru. This time-travel mechanism is triggered by the song and a specific emotional state—intense longing for someone lost.

Example: In the opening scene, Yu-xuan is alone in her apartment, playing the cassette on a vintage player. As the music swells, the screen blurs, and she wakes up in Chen Yun-ru’s bedroom in 1998. This visual transition symbolizes the blurring of identities and timelines. The song itself is a motif throughout the film, representing the unbreakable connection between past and present.

The dual timelines are presented through parallel editing: scenes in 1998 are shot with a warm, nostalgic filter, while 2019 scenes are cooler and more modern. This contrast emphasizes the emotional distance between the two eras. The time travel is not without rules—Yu-xuan can only stay in the past for a limited time, and her actions have unintended consequences, setting up the central conflict.

Section 2: The Past (1998) – Love, Secrets, and Danger

In 1998, Yu-xuan (as Chen Yun-ru) tries to adapt to high school life while secretly investigating the events leading to Li Zi-wei’s death. She befriends Li Zi-wei and Wang Quan-sheng, but her modern knowledge and behavior often clash with the era’s norms. The plot thickens when she uncovers a series of murders that occurred in 1998, which are connected to the 2019 cold case.

Example: One pivotal scene involves Yu-xuan attending a school festival with Li Zi-wei. She knows from her 2019 memories that Li Zi-wei will be involved in a car accident later that night. She tries to warn him, but instead of preventing the accident, her warning causes him to take a different route, leading to a minor accident that injures Wang Quan-sheng. This illustrates the film’s theme of the butterfly effect—small changes in the past can have large, unpredictable impacts on the future.

The 1998 timeline also introduces Mo Jun-jie, who befriends Chen Yun-ru but seems to have hidden motives. His presence adds suspense, as he drops cryptic hints about time travel. For instance, he tells Chen Yun-ru, “Some things are meant to happen, no matter how you try to change them,” foreshadowing the inevitability of certain events.

Section 3: The Present (2019) – Investigation and Revelation

Back in 2019, Li Zi-wei is investigating the murder case that has haunted him since Chen Yun-ru’s death. He finds the cassette tape and begins to experience strange visions, realizing that Yu-xuan has been visiting the past. Together, they form a partnership across time, communicating through notes left in a specific location (a locker at their old school).

Example: In a key sequence, Li Zi-wei discovers a note from Yu-xuan in the locker, warning him about Mo Jun-jie’s involvement in the murders. This note was written by Yu-xuan in 1998 and left for Li Zi-wei to find in 2019. The film uses split-screen to show both timelines simultaneously, highlighting their collaboration. This communication method emphasizes the theme of connection despite physical separation.

The investigation reveals that the murders are part of a larger conspiracy involving the time-travel device. Mo Jun-jie is using it to eliminate people who threaten his plans, including Li Zi-wei. The plot twists when it’s revealed that Li Zi-wei’s death in 2019 was not an accident but a murder orchestrated by Mo Jun-jie to prevent Li Zi-wei from uncovering the truth.

Section 4: The Climax – Breaking the Cycle

The climax occurs in both timelines. In 1998, Yu-xuan and Li Zi-wei confront Mo Jun-jie at the school’s rooftop, where the time-travel device is hidden. They must decide whether to destroy the device or use it to save Li Zi-wei. In 2019, Li Zi-wei races against time to stop Mo Jun-jie from escaping.

Example: In the 1998 confrontation, Yu-xuan uses her knowledge of the future to outsmart Mo Jun-jie. She plays the cassette tape, causing a time distortion that traps Mo Jun-jie in a loop. Meanwhile, Li Zi-wei in 2019 finds the device and destroys it, severing the connection between timelines. This dual action resolves the plot but at a cost: Yu-xuan is stranded in 1998, and Li Zi-wei loses his memories of the time travel. The scene is emotionally charged, with the song “Someday or One Day” playing in the background, symbolizing the bittersweet nature of their love.

Section 5: The Resolution – A New Beginning

The film ends on a hopeful note. In an altered 2019, Li Zi-wei is alive but has no memory of Yu-xuan or the time travel. However, he feels a sense of familiarity when he hears the song on the radio. Yu-xuan, now living in 1998 as Chen Yun-ru, has accepted her new life but continues to hope for a reunion. The final scene shows them meeting in a coffee shop, where a spark of recognition hints at a future where they might find each other again.

Example: The resolution uses a montage of scenes from both timelines, intercut with the song. This technique reinforces the theme of enduring love. The open-ended conclusion allows for interpretation—whether they will truly reunite is left to the audience, but the emotional journey suggests that love transcends time.

Themes and Symbolism

The film explores several profound themes:

  • Time and Destiny: The plot questions whether fate can be changed, using time travel as a metaphor for life’s regrets and second chances.
  • Identity and Memory: Characters grapple with who they are when their memories and bodies are intertwined, as seen in Yu-xuan’s struggle to maintain her identity in Chen Yun-ru’s body.
  • Love and Sacrifice: The central relationship between Yu-xuan and Li Zi-wei demonstrates that true love involves sacrifice, as both characters risk everything to save each other.

Symbolism is rich throughout: the cassette tape represents the past, the song symbolizes connection, and the school rooftop is a recurring motif for pivotal decisions.

Conclusion

“Someday or One Day” is a masterful blend of romance and fantasy, with well-developed characters and a tightly woven plot. The English introductions to the characters highlight their complexities, while the plot analysis reveals the intricate narrative structure. Through examples, we see how the film uses time travel to explore deep human emotions. For fans of the TV series, the film provides closure, and for new viewers, it stands as a compelling story about the power of love to bridge time. If you’re interested in similar films, consider watching “The Lake House” or “About Time” for more time-travel romance.