Eighteen Springs

Eighteen Springs

Year: 1997

Runtime: 126 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Ann Hui

RomanceDrama

In 1930s Shanghai, a young office girl falls in love with a factory worker in the same company.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Eighteen Springs (1997)

Trace every key event in Eighteen Springs (1997) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Manzhen enters Shanghai factory life and befriends two classmates

Manzhen works as a clerical assistant in a Shanghai factory and forms a close trio with Xu Shuhui and Shen Shijun. They become firm friends as they navigate work and life. The factory setting anchors her early hopes and dreams.

early in the story Shanghai factory
2

Manlu chooses marriage to a wealthy playboy to support the family

Manlu, Manzhen's elder sister who works as a nightclub hostess, decides to marry Zhu Hongcai to secure financial stability. Her choice reflects the social pressures and limited options of the time. The marriage sets the stage for further conflicts.

early in the timeline Shanghai
3

Shijun's family objects to the romance and pushes Cuizhi

Shijun's wealthy family disapproves of Manzhen and Shijun's relationship, assuming the sister's occupation taints her. They pressure him to marry Cuizhi, a cousin, to protect family interests. This interference drives the lovers apart.

early in the story Shijun's family home
4

Manzhen and Shijun quarrel and part

Manzhen and Shijun have a bitter quarrel fueled by social pressures and misunderstandings. They part ways, their love left unresolved. The rift marks a turning point for both families' plans.

early in the story Shanghai
5

Manlu forces Manzhen into Zhu's mansion and she is raped

Manlu arranges for Manzhen to be locked in Zhu Hongcai's mansion for an overnight encounter. Zhu rapes Manzhen, and she becomes pregnant with his child. The crime catalyzes a chain of entrapment and betrayal.

soon after the quarrel Zhu Hongcai's mansion
6

Manzhen is imprisoned and cut off from Shijun

Manzhen is held prisoner in Zhu's mansion, cut off from contact with Shijun. She endures the pregnancy in isolation as the social threat to all concerned grows. Her confinement demonstrates the brutal limits of her choices.

during imprisonment Zhu's mansion
7

Shijun visits, but Manlu turns him away

Shijun travels to see Manzhen, hoping to reunite, but Manlu sends him away, believing Manzhen has rejected him due to their class difference. The couple is kept apart by deceit and pride. The moment underscores the cruel barriers around their love.

during imprisonment Zhu's mansion
8

Manzhen gives birth and escapes to start a new life

Manzhen gives birth to Zhu's son and escapes from hospital, choosing a new life away from the mansion. She becomes a schoolteacher in another town, seeking anonymity and independence. The birth binds her to Zhu's child, complicating her freedom.

soon after giving birth Hospital, then a town where she becomes a teacher
9

Shijun marries Cuizhi; Manzhen's letters are burned

By the time Manzhen writes to Shijun, he has married Cuizhi. Cuizhi and her mother-in-law burn Manzhen's letters, erasing the emotional record of their relationship. The betrayal cements the distance between the lovers.

several years later Cuizhi's home
10

Manlu dies and returns Manzhen's son

Manlu, unable to bear children herself, tracks down Manzhen to ask forgiveness on her deathbed. Before dying, she restores Manzhen's biological son to her, hoping Manzhen will raise him. This act redeems some of the past wrongs and ties the families together in a fragile way.

late in the story Manlu's deathbed
11

Manzhen chooses to stay with Zhu for their son

Although she hates Zhu for the rape, Manzhen chooses to stay with him to raise their son. The decision binds her to a difficult, compromised life. She carries the memory of Shijun and their lost romance into the present.

years after the birth Zhu's mansion
12

Fourteen years later, Manzhen and Shijun meet again

Fourteen years have passed when Manzhen and Shijun cross paths by chance at their favorite restaurant in Shanghai. They catch up on each other's lives and recognize that love cannot overcome their obligations. The encounter underscores the enduring but impractical nature of their romance.

fourteen years later Favorite restaurant in Shanghai
13

The film flashes back to the moment their romance began

The film then flashes back to Shijun's search for Manzhen's missing red glove, which marks the moment their romance began. The glove search becomes a symbolic trigger for their connection. This flashback reframes the later reunion, showing how far they had come and how little they could change their fates.

flashback within the story Shanghai

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:31

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Eighteen Springs Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Eighteen Springs, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Eighteen Springs Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Eighteen Springs

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Eighteen Springs. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Eighteen Springs

Eighteen Springs Spoiler-Free Summary

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Eighteen Springs Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Eighteen Springs

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