May You Stay Forever Young 2021

During the Sheung Wan protest on 21 July 2019, two best friends, YY [Kitty Yu Tsz-wing], and Ho [Li Pui Yi], are arrested after witnessing a fellow protester being sexually assaulted by the police. Ho’s decision to migrate from Hong Kong soon after adds strain to their friendship, and YY begins to feel increasingly hopeless.

On 28 July, YY writes a suicide note and calls Nam [Suen Kwan To], a brave protester she met during the arrest, to say farewell. Concerned for her safety, Nam—who is heading to the rallies at Chater Garden with his girlfriend Bell [Maya Tsang], the volunteer drivers Fai [Suen Ching] and Zoe [Sammi Mak Wing Sum], and fellow protesters Louis [Calvin Tong Ka Fai] and Mr. Burnism [Ray Ho Wai Wa]—tells the group that YY might be contemplating suicide and urges them to search for her. Although Louis initially objects, Fai proposes they first check YY’s hometown Kwai Fong.

In Kwai Fong, the team is joined by Bao [Ivy Pang], a social worker who provides counseling to young protesters after seeing their messages in a Telegram group. Bao assesses that YY is likely experiencing suicidal thoughts, noting that people in such states often act within eight hours, and urges immediate action to locate her. The group splits up to ask pedestrians for information. Bao coincidentally approaches Ho at a beverage shop, and Ho hesitates to talk about YY; Bao leaves her number. Mr. Burnism calls for help in the Telegram groups, prompting many protesters to broaden the search to areas outside Kwai Fong. Bell then asks a delivery man who recognises YY to direct them to her public housing estate. While the search continues door by door, Ho calls Bao with YY’s exact address.

They rush to YY’s apartment and break in, only to find a suicide note addressed to YY’s father, declaring her intention to prove the protests’ significance through her death. Moments later, Mr. Burnism notices YY has posted a selfie with a doll on social media. The group heads to a claw machine arcade, where a customer reveals YY left an hour earlier. Their loud discussions draw undercover police who tail them. Nam spots them and tries to lead the group away, but Louis insists on continuing toward the rallies, sparking a confrontation that results in their detention. The officers search them in an alley, provoking the boys and sexually molesting Zoe. Mr. Burnism, who initially escapes, returns to ambush the police, allowing Nam, Bell, and Louis to flee, though Fai is badly beaten, and Zoe and Bao are arrested.

Louis blames Nam for the injuries and arrests and leads Mr. Burnism away to join the protests at Chater Road. Feeling he has failed to save YY, Nam breaks down in tears and confesses to Bell that YY was arrested while he tried to help after he was shot with a rubber bullet, but Bell encourages him. Meanwhile, they spot the doll from YY’s selfie dropped nearby. They rush to the rooftop of the adjacent building, where they find YY, with Ho arriving shortly after. The three of them try to persuade YY not to commit suicide, explaining that her death would be in vain and accomplish nothing for Hong Kong. But despite their pleas, YY leaps off the building. Just as she falls, Nam grabs her arm, followed by Bell and Ho.