Autumn Moon

Pui Wai, a 15-year-old girl, lives with her grandmother in Hong Kong and spends much of her time wondering about where she will live or who she might marry. She contemplates the future with a mix of longing and fear, revealing the pressures of family expectations and her own independence. Her days are small yet heavy with questions about belonging and happiness.

While walking through the city, she spots a twenty-something Japanese man fishing off a bridge and tells him the spot is no good for catching fish. They begin talking and quickly realize they can communicate in English despite not sharing a language, forming a tentative connection. The encounter sets the stage for a cross-cultural bond that grows across the film.

What starts as a request for a 'traditional' dining spot leads them to McDonald's, which becomes a shared space for stories. They swap memories and fears, and Pui Wai reveals how McDonald's has a special place in her heart for birthdays with family and friends. Tokio jokes about food tastes changing abroad, but the conversation deepens their bond.

Later, Pui Wai invites Tokio to her home, where her grandmother prepares a meal for them. The simple family gathering helps bridge their worlds, as they exchange stories and learn more about each other's families.

The following day, Tokio meets his older friend Miki for lunch; they share awkward small talk, hinting at a complicated past. They return to Tokio's apartment where they have sex, exposing unresolved history and lingering loneliness.

Pui Wai recalls the moment her grandfather died and the fear it instilled in her about losing her grandmother. The memory is vivid and fills her with anxiety about her own family’s vulnerability.

In the morning, Pui Wai confesses to Tokio that she has been skipping school, signaling how strained she feels by her circumstances. The admission reveals growing detachment from her routine and future plans. The moment deepens the emotional weight of their evolving relationship.

After another dinner at home, they talk near the city bridge about their happiness and the emptiness they feel. Tokio shares his own experiences with multiple partners to reassure her that feeling this way is normal. The conversation underscores their need for honesty amid uncertainty.

Pui Wai develops a fever, and she surprisingly finds comfort in being sick as long as her grandmother tends to her. The care she receives highlights the closeness of their bond and the shelter she finds in her grandmother's presence. This small vulnerability deepens their emotional connection.

Grandmother falls sick, prompting a hospital visit from Pui Wai and Tokio. Later, Pui Wai brings Tokio home for a meal, and they attempt to cook noodles together without the grandmother’s guidance, fumbling through the simple act and growing closer in the process.

Grandmother's condition improves, and Tokio stays to help care for her at the hospital. Her monologue about wanting the best for her family weighs on him, prompting an emotional moment when he meets Miki, tears up, and the two share a painful but intimate exchange before reconnecting.

Pui Wai's date with her boyfriend begins well but becomes somber when he explains his plans to move to the US. His pragmatic approach clashes with Pui Wai’s longing to stay connected to Hong Kong and her family, highlighting a rift between their futures.

After their dates, Pui Wai and Tokio help bring her grandmother home while continuing to care for her. Meanwhile, her father emails that he has bought a home overseas, signaling that the family may soon leave Hong Kong and move abroad.

Pui Wai and Tokio go fishing at a cliff where the fish are said to be big, recalling memories with her father. She tells him she wants to forget about her boyfriend, but Tokio urges her not to erase him entirely, suggesting that some memory should remain.

During the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Pui Wai lights lanterns with Tokio and compares the festival to the Bon/Obon celebrations back home in Japan. She acknowledges that this year might be her last festival in Hong Kong, recites part of a poem her grandfather taught her, and ends the night feeling hopeful as fireworks light the beach.