“If only I had more time!” We’ve all said that at one point or another, but what would it actually look like to have limitless time? Would it be all it’s cracked up to be? The Girl Who Stole Time explores these questions and more, blending historical fiction, fantasy, romance, and action together into a satisfying, beautiful story about bonds that stretch beyond time.
Nestled within the snowy mountains lies the Time Dial, a relic that gives its owner the power to control time. Intrepid explorers Nine, Ten, and Seventeen set out on a perilous quest to retrieve the relic. (And lest you think those names sound fantastical, check out March 7th.) They succeed in their mission and embark on the long journey back to Shanghai, but after a fierce storm and a tragic collision at sea, the relic clink-clink-clinks off the deck and sinks amidst the rolling waves, never to be seen again.
Or that’s how the story could have ended. Cue Qian Xiao, a spirited village girl who dreams of a life of luxury, entertainment, and freedom in the city. Opportunity strikes when a trading steamer from the mainland visits the island, and Qian Xiao stows away in the hold. In a twist of fate, the steamer collides with a certain large ship, plunging Qian Xiao into the waters and knocking her unconscious, but also putting her face to face with the Time Dial.
When Qian Xiao awakens, she discovers that she’s arrived on the shores of Shanghai. Not only that, but she also seems to be able to freeze time thanks to her Shiny Gold Spinny Thing. Hijinks ensue, and amidst a tussle involving the police and some street thugs, Qian Xiao meets Seventeen, one of those explorers who discovered the Time Dial. Seventeen strikes a bargain with her: She gets one day with the Dial to make all her dreams come true, and then she returns it to him. Over the course of that day, the two explore the streets of Shanghai, shoot their own movie under the guidance of an eccentric director, and slowly fall in love. But there are mysterious forces that will stop at nothing to snatch the Time Dial for themselves. Can their love survive the full force of the Shanghai underworld that is hot on their heels?
The Girl Who Stole Time wears a number of hats. It’s a lighthearted, comedic action film for adults and children alike, a period drama that nevertheless draws on Western aesthetics, and a gentle, romantic coming-of-age story. And it succeeds in each of these areas. For one, the 1930s Shanghai setting is intricately realized, with lots of cultural details in the architecture and festivities. But then, in a certain scene, the shadows begin to loom, the colors shift into deep, sunset hues, and you realize that the film is imitating the style of an old Western. Again, the movie will jump from an intricately choreographed fight scene between Seventeen and Mr. Zuo’s henchmen to a quiet, contemplative scene about the fleeting nature of life and relationships, or burst into a Disney-esque musical number featuring characters jumping in and out of movie posters. These genres were especially popular in 1930s cinema, and The Girl Who Stole Time recasts them with a modern flair as a way of paying homage to their influence. All of this may sound frenetic, but in the movie it’s seamless; unless you’re paying close attention, you won’t even notice the shifts.
Part of the reason the film is able to get away with these contrasts is its phenomenal animation. Eye-catching special effects tie the various styles together, and the scene composition keeps viewers focused on what matters in each sequence: the characters and their relationships. Directors Ao Yu and Tienan Zhou throw in all these genres as bonuses for the attentive film buff without sacrificing the experience of everyday moviegoers, and it’s a masterclass in screenwriting.
But the main reason The Girl Who Stole Time can use such a diverse stylistic palette is its energetic pacing, which fits well for a movie involving time travel. When the characters grumble about the swift passage of time, you sympathize with their complaints because the story beats of the movie really have darted by. That being said, the faster pace does mean that some of the quieter character moments don’t hit as deeply. It’s hard to sympathize with Qian Xiao’s looming fears that she’ll miss out on living a full life when her worry is immediately undercut by a joke or scene transition.
Nonetheless, the twist at the end more than makes up for this. I won’t spoil the details, but the last half-hour totally transforms the dynamic between Qian Xiao and Seventeen, introducing a layer of emotional heartache to their story and bringing the film back to its roots as a character-driven drama. Ao Yu and Tienan Zhou have explored similar themes of loss in relationships in their previous movies (The Wind Guardians, The Thousand Faces of Dunija 2), and build on that work here. Qian Xiao finds herself face-to-face with the cruel march of time, as it claims friends and loved ones and leaves regret and shattered dreams in its wake. Yet even in the midst of such sorrow, there is a path forward, and The Girl Who Stole Time commits to portraying that truth in the selfless romantic love between Qian Xiao and Seventeen.
“Time steals everything. It never stops or waits for anyone.” Yet, time is also the stage where Qian Xiao and Seventeen meet, the medium that makes their love possible. Even if time is the great thief, love sows seeds of hope that bring life and joy. And in becoming people who love one another, we too, like Qian Xiao, become people who steal time.
The Girl Who Stole Time premiered in China on May 30 and internationally, at the Annecy International Film Festival on June 9. Thank you to Fortissimo Films for the screener!
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[…] animation has exploded onto the Western screen in recent years. Along with The Girl Who Stole Time from this summer, we now have The Legend of Hei 2, releasing in America months before the rest of […]