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The Day We Lit Up The Sky
Movie

The Day We Lit Up The Sky

2021 • Unknown

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

The young man, who has come to Hainan alone to repeat his studies, meets a group of "salty boys" with similar taste and a group of "weed girls" with different backgrounds.

Overall Series Review

The film follows the story of an outcast girl who is a gifted dancer but faces rejection due to superficial reasons, such as her height, skin tone, and her family's salted-fish shop business. She teams up with a group of male 'misfits' and a transfer student to form an unconventional dance crew and pursue a common dream. The narrative centers on themes of self-acceptance, resilience, and the power of youth. The setting celebrates the unique local architecture and culture of Haikou, focusing on an inspirational underdog story rather than political or ideological lectures. The primary conflict is social—overcoming snobbery and superficial judgments—allowing characters to be judged by their merit and heart. The gender roles are largely complementary, with the female protagonist as the central talent and coach, supported by a male lead.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The plot focuses on an outcast girl and a team of male 'misfits' who are judged by superficial traits like her family's humble background and her not fitting a prescribed physical mold. The narrative's core message is about merit and the content of one's soul overcoming social prejudice. There is no vilification of 'whiteness' or forced intersectional hierarchy, placing the focus on universal underdog themes.

Oikophobia1/10

The film utilizes the 'old streets' and 'unique architecture' of Haikou city, Hainan, as its setting, actively celebrating the local culture and the potential of its youth. The storytelling is rooted in appreciation for the home environment and ancestral way of life (like the salted-fish shop), without deconstruction or hostility toward its heritage.

Feminism3/10

The female protagonist is the talented lead and takes on the role of coach for the all-male misfit team, which positions her in a leadership role. However, she is a resilient underdog, not a flawless 'Mary Sue' or 'Girl Boss.' The male lead is supportive, and the narrative also features themes of family, including a plot point involving the female lead's lack of maternal love and her father's encouragement, avoiding an anti-natal or total male emasculation message.

LGBTQ+2/10

The core of the story involves a traditional romantic interest developing between the male and female leads. One of the male supporting characters is described as 'girly,' a representation of the 'misfit' archetype, but the film does not center around his sexual identity, promote queer theory, or lecture on gender ideology. Sexuality remains a private, peripheral matter.

Anti-Theism1/10

The movie is a secular youth musical with central themes of friendship, pursuing dreams, and overcoming adversity. There is no mention of traditional religion, nor is there any hostility, villainous religious characters, or moral lecturing based on subjective 'power dynamics.' The morality promoted is the universal, transcendent value of perseverance and helping others.