That Day, on the Beach

That Day, on the Beach

Year: 1983

Runtime: 166 mins

Language: Chinese

Director: Edward Yang

DramaRomance

After a thirteen‑year separation, two longtime friends reconnect on a sun‑kissed beach. One has returned from a triumphant European concert tour as a celebrated pianist, while the other is embarking on his first entrepreneurial venture, navigating a mix of nostalgia and new ambitions.

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Timeline & Setting – That Day, on the Beach (1983)

Explore the full timeline and setting of That Day, on the Beach (1983). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Taipei, Taiwan, Beach

Set primarily in Taipei's urban landscape and along a coastal beach, the story moves between a bustling city and a quiet shoreline where clues surface. The locations—piano concert venues, corporate offices, a family clinic, and a hospital—reflect the pressures of modern life and the fragility of personal ties.

🏙️ Urban 🏖️ Beach 🕰️ Contemporary

Last Updated: January 08, 2026 at 12:00

Main Characters – That Day, on the Beach (1983)

Meet the key characters of That Day, on the Beach (1983), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lin Jiali (Sylvia Chang)

Lin Jiali is a woman who left her hometown for Taipei to pursue a life with Dewei after college. She embodies independence and the ache of a relationship stretched thin by distance and career pressures. Her confrontation with past decisions drives the emotional core of the story.

💖 Romance 🎭 Drama

Tan Weiqing

A pianist returning to her hometown to perform after thirteen years abroad. She chooses to reconnect with an old friend, offering quiet support and a candid perspective on love, loss, and second chances. Weiqing's presence reopens old wounds while showing resilience.

🎼 Music 💬 Dialogue 🎭 Drama

Cheng Dewei

Jiali's former partner who disappears three years prior and is presumed dead. His career pressures and the mysteries surrounding his disappearance loom over Jiali's present, shaping her choices and emotional state.

💔 Heartbreak 🧭 Past 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: January 08, 2026 at 12:00

Major Themes – That Day, on the Beach (1983)

Explore the central themes of That Day, on the Beach (1983), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕰️ Memory

The film revisits past choices and the long shadow of a failed romance, showing how memory shapes present decisions. Reunions between old friends surface unresolved feelings and what-ifs that complicate current lives. The disappearance of Dewei triggers reflection on sacrifice, time lost, and the persistence of memory in everyday choices.

💔 Relationships

The narrative tracks the shifting dynamics of love, friendship, and obligation. Jiali's past with Dewei, Weiqing's return for a concert, and the tension between personal happiness and family expectations reveal how relationships are tested by circumstance. The story explores how neglect, hope, and pursuit of closeness shape people's actions.

🔎 Disappearance

Dewei's sudden departure and presumed death set a quiet thriller tone as investigators search for answers. Clues surface through company discrepancies, travel hints, and a body found on the beach, but truth remains elusive. The unresolved mystery mirrors the characters' uncertain emotional journeys.

Last Updated: January 08, 2026 at 12:00

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Poignant reunion dramas like That Day, on the Beach

Friends reconnect after years apart, confronting buried emotions and memories.If you enjoyed the reflective and melancholic tone of That Day, on the Beach, discover more movies about friends reuniting after many years. These films explore themes of nostalgia, regret, and the complex emotions that surface when the past confronts the present.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically involve a reunion after a significant time apart, often structured around conversations that gradually peel back layers of memory. The narrative often shifts between the present encounter and flashbacks, revealing secrets, unspoken feelings, and the consequences of past choices.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their central plot device—a reunion—and their shared emotional tone of melancholy and introspection. They prioritize character development and emotional dialogue over plot twists, creating a slow-paced, contemplative viewing experience centered on relationships.

Movies about melancholic reflection like That Day, on the Beach

Characters reflect on their lives, careers, and relationships with a sense of melancholy.Viewers who appreciated the introspective and bittersweet mood of That Day, on the Beach will find similar films here. These dramas explore characters grappling with career ambitions, personal loss, and the lingering weight of memory in a slow, thoughtful manner.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives often follow characters in moments of pause or transition, using conversations, memories, and quiet moments to explore the gap between youthful dreams and adult reality. The plot is secondary to the emotional journey, which typically ends on a bittersweet note of acceptance rather than clear resolution.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups movies based on a shared contemplative mood and thematic focus on life evaluation. They share a slow pacing and medium emotional weight, offering a thoughtful, often melancholic, look at the human condition and the paths not taken.

Unlock the Full Story of That Day, on the Beach

Don't stop at just watching — explore That Day, on the Beach in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what That Day, on the Beach is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

That Day, on the Beach Summary

Read a complete plot summary of That Day, on the Beach, 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.

That Day, on the Beach Summary

That Day, on the Beach Timeline

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

That Day, on the Beach Timeline

That Day, on the Beach Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of That Day, on the Beach that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

That Day, on the Beach Spoiler-Free Summary

More About That Day, on the Beach

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More About That Day, on the Beach

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