Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time

Year: 2017

Runtime: 109 min

Language: English

Directors: Anthony LaMolinara, Xiaoding Zhao

Echo Score: 78
Drama

Three hundred years prior, a tragic parting on Zhu Xian Terrace marked the heartbreaking end of a couple's relationship, an event witnessed by a bronze mirror. Fate intervenes centuries later when they unexpectedly reunite within the mystical East Sea Dragon Palace. Their destinies are once again entwined, forcing them to confront the sorrow of their past and the challenges of a renewed connection.

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Once Upon a Time (2017) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Once Upon a Time (2017) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a realm where history and legend intertwine, an ancient tragedy unfolds on the mist‑shrouded Zhu Xian Terrace. A couple once bound by love faces a heart‑breaking parting that is captured forever in the silent gaze of a bronze mirror, an object that seems to hold the echo of their sorrow. The terrace, bathed in the soft glow of twilight, serves as a quiet witness to a love that was both profound and fleeting, setting a tone of bittersweet yearning that lingers long after the final words are spoken.

Centuries later, the story moves beneath the waves to the ethereal East Sea Dragon Palace, a place where the ordinary world dissolves into shimmering corridors of coral and pearl. Here, destiny weaves its threads once again, drawing the two souls back into each other’s orbit. The palace is a living tapestry of ancient myth and luminous wonder, its halls resonating with the murmurs of forgotten tides and the promise of renewal. The atmosphere balances a luminous, almost dreamlike serenity with an undercurrent of unresolved longing, inviting viewers to feel both the weight of the past and the fragile hope of a second chance.

At the heart of this tale are two characters whose names remain as elusive as the winds that first tore them apart. Their reunion is less about grand spectacle and more about the intimate, quiet moments that reveal how deep emotions endure across time. As they navigate the luminous corridors of the Dragon Palace, they must confront the memories held by the bronze mirror and decide whether the pull of history will bind them forever or allow them to forge a new destiny together. The film’s tone is poetic and contemplative, inviting the audience to linger in the spaces between memory and possibility, where love’s echo can be heard across centuries.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:10

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Once Upon a Time Summary

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Once Upon a Time Summary

Once Upon a Time Timeline

Track the full timeline of Once Upon a Time with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Once Upon a Time Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Once Upon a Time

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time Ending Explained

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Once Upon a Time Ending Explained

More About Once Upon a Time

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