Review of You Are the Apple of My Eye (2011) by Raymond C — 02 Dec 2011

"You Are the Apple of My Eye" takes a trip down memory lane to revisit the exuberant times of school life, all the more realistic for its careful attention to the finer details with regards to time and settings, and its honest portrayal of classroom pranks, idiosyncratic behavior and the raging hormones of youth.

It tells the tale of the motley crew of high school students, comprising of an impetuous and brash lad (Ke Zhendong), a studious and peckish young lady (Michelle Chen), with several other quirky, hilarious friends as they make their journey through high school, junior high and eventually adulthood.

This is a personal piece of work, with the heart of the story based on a recount by the male lead of the affecting moments he spent with the girl who impacted his life with her pen-poking and constant nagging to revise, her willingness to stand up for what is right and her resolution in helping a fellow student better himself; the pen marks left behind is symbolic of the lingering memories of first love.

The pair of young lovers put in commendable performances which make the romance and sweet rush of first love believable. Beneath the gross-out gags, coarse vulgarities and weird antics of the young and rebellious, lies a heartfelt and resonant tale, and the film's thematic relevance to the passing of time, treasuring memories, and the understanding that love was never about possession, is made all the more poignant and earnest by the film's bittersweet denouement.

A rare gem of stirring and emotional drama laden with raunchy, nostalgic fun, "You Are the Apple of My Eye" deserves to be preserved as a classic like the fond memories of yore.