The New Year’s Eve Of Old Lee (2016) Plot Summary Explained

The story revolves around Old Lee (played by Zhao Benshan), a lonely retired elderly man living alone in a traditional northern courtyard house in Shimen, northeast of Beijing. Although he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and occasionally experiences memory loss, Old Lee is basically able to take care of his daily life, which contrasts sharply with the chaotic lifestyle of his relatives.

Old Li only gets to see his daughter Li Yangduo (played by Yan Ni), who's working in Beijing, and his granddaughter Julie (played by Rayzha Alimjan), who's studying in the US, during holidays. He eagerly awaits their reunion, which also brings his granddaughter's boyfriend Aaron (played by Aaron Yan).

On Lunar New Year's Eve, Old Lee's daughter, Yangduo, is initially in Beijing, dealing with her own professional and relationship pressures. Her partner demands his investment back, and she is busy picking up her own daughter, Julie, who is studying in Los Angeles.  After picking up Julie, Yangduo receives a distressing call from a friend stating that her father is unwell. She immediately drives to Shimen County in Hunan to care for him, much to the annoyance of Julie, who feels her own trip has been disrupted.

Finally, the three generations reunited for the first time in years. But the reunion was filled with tension and unresolved conflicts.