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Timeline

Our Times (2025) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2025 · 1 h 30 m · Spanish
Echo score 50
Directed by
Chava Cartas
Starring
Hugo Albores, Ofelia Medina, Renata Vaca, Mario Alberto Monroy, Lucero, Benny Ibarra

In 1918 Shanghai, Zhong Wan and her classmate Xie Yibai work together to establish literacy classes for dock workers. Their shared commitment to workers' rights and social justice leads them to inspire others and assist He Baoren during a period of significant upheaval. The story explores their evolving beliefs and aspirations amidst the events leading up to the May Fourth Movement.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Categories
  5. 5 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Our Times Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Our Times (2025) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Lin Truly's Present Life

    The film opens in the present day, introducing Lin Truly as an ordinary office worker. Despite her hard-working nature, she faces ridicule from her younger colleagues, which contributes to her stressful life.

    When
    Present Day
    Where
    Office
  2. Flashback to High School Days

    Lin Truly reflects on her carefree high school days after listening to an Andy Lau song. During this time, she idolized Lau and had a crush on the most popular boy, Ouyang Fei-Fan.

    When
    High School Years
    Where
    High School
  3. The Chain Letter Incident

    Seventeen-year-old Lin receives a chain letter warning of doom if not passed on. Naively, she shares it with several classmates, including the notorious gangster boss, Hsu Tai-yu, leading to unforeseen consequences.

    When
    Seventeen Years Old
    Where
    High School
  4. Hsu Tai-yu's Retaliation

    After being hit by a car while reading the chain letter, Hsu Tai-yu forces Lin Truly into a 'friendship'. This leads her to run errands for him as a means to keep Ouyang safe from his wrath.

    When
    Days Following Chain Letter
    Where
    High School
  5. Discovery of Min-min and Ouyang's Secret

    Lin accidentally overhears a conversation revealing that Ouyang is in a secret relationship with Tao Min-min. This discovery fuels her desire to break up the couple and orchestrate a plan with Hsu Tai-yu.

    When
    Next Few Weeks
    Where
    High School
  6. Learning about Tai-yu's Past

    While researching Ouyang's past, Lin learns that he and Tai-yu were once friends. This revelation sheds light on Tai-yu's transformation from a schoolmate to a gangster after a friend's tragic death.

    When
    Shortly After Discovery
    Where
    Library
  7. The Roller-Skating Challenge

    Lin challenges Tai-yu to a roller-skating race with the stakes being a request from the loser. Surprising everyone, she wins and asks Tai-yu to revert to his former self, inspiring a meaningful change in him.

    When
    After Learning of Their Past
    Where
    Roller Skating Rink
  8. Tai-yu's Academic Improvement

    Tai-yu begins to improve his grades significantly and places 10th in a mock exam. However, despite his progress, the new Director punishes him for alleged cheating, highlighting the ongoing struggles he faces.

    When
    Post Exam
    Where
    School
  9. Lin's Protest Against the Director

    Angered by the Director's unfair treatment of Tai-yu, Lin initiates a protest within the school. The protest culminates during a festival where students take a stand against the Director's oppression, leading to a resolution.

    When
    Festival Day
    Where
    School Festival
  10. Camping Trip Promise

    During a camping trip with friends, Lin and Tai-yu share emotional promises to remember each other after high school. This marks a significant moment in their evolving relationship.

    When
    Camping Trip
    Where
    Campsite
  11. Lin's Birthday Surprise

    The day before Lin's birthday, she receives a heartfelt recording from Tai-yu, meant to be listened to after the university entrance exam. This gesture hints at their deeper feelings for each other.

    When
    Day Before Birthday
    Where
    Lin's Home
  12. Heartbreaking Confession

    On her birthday, Lin eagerly approaches Tai-yu, only to find him with Min-min, who confesses her feelings for him. Lin's hopes are dashed as she watches them together, leading to a painful emotional breakdown.

    When
    Birthday
    Where
    School
  13. Tai-yu's Medical Diagnosis

    After the birthday events, Tai-yu discovers he has a brain clot resulting from his past injuries and fighting. His parents decide to send him overseas for treatment, leaving Lin feeling helpless and abandoned.

    When
    Following Diagnosis
    Where
    Hospital
  14. Listening to the Recording

    After the university entrance exams, Lin finally listens to the recording from Tai-yu. In it, Tai-yu admits his feelings for her while acknowledging they both have pursued others.

    When
    Post Exams
    Where
    Lin's Home
  15. Reunion at the Concert

    In the present day, Lin runs into Andy Lau outside his concert, where he helps her get in. To her surprise, the contact is revealed to be Tai-yu, fulfilling his promise to ensure she could see her idol perform.

    When
    Present Day
    Where
    Concert Venue, Taipei

Last updated: June 23, 2025 at 06:03

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Timeline questions answered

Our Times Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Our Times (2025): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Lin pass the chain letter to Hsu Tai-yu?

Seventeen-year-old Lin received a chain letter warning that anyone who didn't share it would face bad luck. Believing the warning, she naively shared it with several people including the notorious gang leader Hsu Tai-yu, not realizing it would lead to him getting hit by a car while reading it and subsequently forcing her into running errands for him.

  • chain letter
  • Hsu Tai-yu
  • Lin
  • high school
  • accident
Q2

What tragedy turned Hsu Tai-yu into a gangster?

Tai-yu and Ouyang were once close friends, but after a tragic event involving a friend's death, Tai-yu withdrew from school and transformed into the feared gangster leader. This past trauma explains his hardened personality and his complicated relationship with Ouyang.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes hint at Tai-yu's rough exterior masking deeper emotional wounds.

  • Tai-yu
  • Ouyang
  • friend death
  • gangster
  • past trauma
Q3

Why did Lin ally with Tai-yu after discovering Ouyang and Min-min's secret?

After overhearing that Ouyang was secretly dating Tao Min-min, the girl Lin idolized, she felt betrayed and devastated. Knowing that Tai-yu also had feelings for Min-min, Lin teamed up with him to scheme against the couple, using his influence to break them up.

  • Lin
  • Tai-yu
  • Min-min
  • Ouyang
  • secret relationship
  • betrayal
Q4

Why was Tai-yu accused of cheating on the exam?

Despite his genuine improvement and ranking 10th in the mock exam, the school's new Director accused Tai-yu of cheating because he couldn't believe a former gangster could achieve such results through honest effort. This unfair accusation led to harsh punishment that nearly cost him his health.

  • Tai-yu
  • cheating accusation
  • Director
  • exam
  • school injustice
Q5

What was on the recording Tai-yu gave Lin before the university exams?

The recording contained Tai-yu's confession of his true feelings for Lin. He admitted that despite their promises to pursue Ouyang and Min-min, he had fallen in love with her all along. Lin only listened to it after the exams, missing the chance to respond before his sudden departure.

Foreshadowing: Tai-yu gave the recording before his birthday, hinting at unspoken feelings.

  • recording
  • Tai-yu
  • Lin
  • confession
  • feelings
  • university exam
Q6

Why did Tai-yu leave suddenly for overseas treatment?

Tai-yu was diagnosed with a brain clot resulting from injuries sustained during his past life as a gangster. His family decided to send him abroad for medical treatment, which is why he became unreachable to Lin during such a crucial time in their lives.

Foreshadowing: Earlier references to Tai-yu's violent past and injuries foreshadow this medical consequence.

  • Tai-yu
  • brain clot
  • overseas treatment
  • health
  • injury
Q7

Do Lin and Tai-yu end up together in the end?

Yes, in the present day, Lin discovers that the contact who helped her meet Andy Lau is actually Tai-yu, who has returned from overseas after his treatment. He fulfills his high school promise to help her see her idol, and they are reunited at the concert, suggesting they finally get their happy ending.

Foreshadowing: The camping trip promise and the recording foreshadow their eventual reunion.

  • Lin
  • Tai-yu
  • reunion
  • happy ending
  • concert
  • Andy Lau
Q8

Why did Min-min confess her feelings for Tai-yu on Lin's birthday?

On Lin's birthday, Min-min revealed that she and Tai-yu were now a couple, devastating Lin who had hoped to get her yearbook signed by him. This moment was particularly painful for Lin because it came right after she had started developing genuine feelings for Tai-yu.

  • Min-min
  • Tai-yu
  • Lin
  • birthday
  • confession
  • heartbreak
Q9

Why did Lin lead a protest against the school Director?

Lin initiated the protest because she was outraged by the Director's unfair treatment of Tai-yu, accusing him of cheating despite his genuine academic improvement. Her rebellion inspired other students to join her during the school festival, eventually forcing the Principal to address their concerns.

  • Lin
  • protest
  • Director
  • school festival
  • unfair punishment
Q10

What did Lin achieve by challenging Tai-yu to the roller-skating competition?

By winning the roller-skating challenge, Lin earned the right to make a request from Tai-yu. Instead of seeking revenge, she asked him to reconnect with his former self rather than continue being the hardened gangster he had become. This moment inspired his transformation and brought them closer together.

  • roller skating
  • challenge
  • Lin
  • Tai-yu
  • transformation
  • win
Q11

How did Lin meet Andy Lau at the concert?

While waiting outside the concert venue in Taipei, Lin was surprised to encounter Andy Lau himself, who helped her gain entry inside. She then discovered that the person who arranged this special meeting was actually Tai-yu, fulfilling the promise he made during their high school days.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes Lin's deep admiration for Andy Lau and her nostalgic tape.

  • Andy Lau
  • concert
  • Lin
  • Taipei
  • reunion
  • surprise

Movie threads

More Movies Like Our Times, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Our Times tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Historical Coming-of-age Stories like Our Times

Stories of young people finding purpose amidst significant societal change. If you enjoyed the blend of personal growth and historical context in Our Times, explore these movies. This collection features similar stories where young characters navigate first love and self-discovery against the backdrop of significant historical events and social movements.

  • nostalgic
  • heartfelt
  • hopeful
  • reflective
  • youthful
  • historical
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow young protagonists as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. Their personal struggles with identity, ambition, and love are amplified and given deeper meaning by the historical upheaval surrounding them, creating a compelling intersection of the intimate and the epic.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the coming-of-age arc set within a specific, weighty historical period. They balance the heartfelt emotions of youth with the intellectual and moral challenges posed by a changing world, resulting in a reflective and often bittersweet tone.

Movies with Heartfelt Reunions like Our Times

Emotional stories where separation makes a heartfelt reunion even sweeter. For viewers who loved the emotional payoff of the reunion in Our Times, this section highlights similar movies. These films focus on the themes of enduring connection, the passage of time, and the joy of rediscovering a lost bond, often following a bittersweet emotional journey.

  • nostalgic
  • heartfelt
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • romantic
  • longing
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central relationship that is interrupted by time, distance, or circumstance. The story explores the impact of this separation on the characters' lives, building a sense of longing and reflection, before culminating in a cathartic and happy reunion that resolves past tensions.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core emotional arc: a separation that creates melancholic reflection, followed by a reunion that provides a hopeful and happy resolution. They share a bittersweet tone, a focus on memory and nostalgia, and a payoff that feels earned and emotionally resonant.

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Our Times

Our Times appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories

Every angle

Our Times (2025) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Our Times in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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