Starry Starry Night 2012

Xiao Mei once enjoyed a tranquil life with her grandparents in the mountains, but after moving to the city to reunite with her parents, she finds the environment cold and unwelcoming, starkly contrasting the warm familiarity of her village. Nostalgic for the simplicity of her past, she yearns for the innocence of lying in a field gazing at a starry sky. Meanwhile, her parents are engulfed in work-related stress, facing marital strife that further isolates Xiao Mei.

One day, captivated by a beautiful recorder melody of a Christmas carol drifting from her neighbor’s home, Xiao Mei discovers that this neighbor is Xiao Jie, a troubled child who has recently become a student at her school. As Xiao Mei learns more about him, she notices that he is the target of bullying for being perceived as “cocky.” Their budding friendship takes root when Xiao Mei intervenes, standing up for Xiao Jie against his tormentors. Together, they find joy in decorating their classroom for an inter-class competition, but their mischief leads Xiao Mei to try shoplifting alongside Xiao Jie.

As their bond deepens, Xiao Mei excitedly shares her thoughts on French art with Xiao Jie while attempting to acquire a jigsaw piece to complete her puzzle of “Starry Starry Night,” which she had lost. However, tragedy strikes when her beloved grandfather passes away, leading to her parents’ shocking announcement of divorce. Overwhelmed, Xiao Mei feels her world crumble, prompting her to run away with Xiao Jie to revisit the cherished wooden shack from her childhood.

During their journey, they stray off course and become lost in a dense forest. Fortunately, they discover an abandoned church to shelter themselves for the night. It is here that the two share intimate stories, with Xiao Jie revealing the struggles of his family, prompting Xiao Mei to reassess her own troubled background. The next day, they finally reach the wooden shack, where Xiao Mei reminisces and explores her grandfather’s workshop.

That evening, fog blankets the area, obscuring the stars that Xiao Mei longs to see. As she develops a fever, Xiao Jie carries her back to the shack, and as he does, he catches a fleeting glimpse of the captivating night sky she adored. Upon returning, he contacts their parents while Xiao Mei drifts into sleep. When she awakens, she finds herself in a hospital, the aftermath of their adventure weighing on her.

Years pass, and in the 10th grade, Xiao Mei receives a jigsaw piece that perfectly fits the artwork she had been missing. Fast forward many years later, Xiao Mei, now in France with her stepsister on Christmas Eve, stumbles upon a shop displaying a jigsaw puzzle missing a piece. Entering the shop, she is struck by the sight of the “Starry Starry Night” puzzle, which features the same missing piece that had once eluded her.