The Third Solar Term, a delicate but sharp coming-of-age short film, tracks a young lad’s quiet inquiry of identity over a brief spring break. The film creates a moving picture of a young gay guy negotiating desire, rejection, and familial constraint in modern China by means of subdued conversations, subtle gestures, and unsaid knowledge.
The Third Solar Term Official Trailer
The Third Solar Term Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Third Solar Term |
| Movies Info: | China (2021) |
| Length: | 20 minutes |
| Is The Third Solar Term BL? | No. |
| Genre: | Drama / Short Film / Boy's love |
Plot
Sun Qizhe returns home during spring break. He arranges to meet an older online acquaintance—a flirtatious red-haired man whose presence embodies freedom and risk. Their brief encounter sparks confusion, arousal, and ultimately, heartbreak.
The red-haired man’s visit to Qizhe’s home unexpectedly coincides with the return of his mother. Tension arises in a wordless standoff. What follows is a retreat into silence: no questions asked, no confrontation. They eat dumplings together instead. A quiet truce, born of care and avoidance.
As Qizhe tends to his pet mantis—a subtle symbol of growth, entrapment, and transformation—he reflects on his sexual awakening and his relationship with his controlling yet loving single mother. The film ends on a gentle, painful note: he smokes alone, his fever rising, his gaze fixed on the future beyond the window, like the mantis finally free from its glass jar.
The Third Solar Term Cast
Charactor
A sensitive, introverted teenager grappling with his identity and familial expectations during a pivotal moment of self-discovery.
Fengyi Xing
Fengyi Xing’s performance is hauntingly understated. He embodies the quiet ache of youth caught between longing and shame, making Qizhe’s emotional journey profoundly relatable.
An older, more assertive man who becomes Qizhe’s first real-world encounter with queer desire.
Le Duo
Wang Ze Xuan plays his character with just the right mix of charm and danger. He never overplays his part, allowing viewers to project both temptation and threat onto his presence.
Director
J.C. Song
Director and screenwriter J.C. Song graduated with a BA from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and an MA from the London Film School. His short film The Third Solar Term was selected for the 26th Busan International Film Festival and screened at various international festivals. His upcoming project Memory Resonance was featured at the 18th FIRST International Film Festival, SIFF Project 2024, and the Golden Rooster Film Project sci-fi section. Song’s work blends painterly composition with emotionally grounded storytelling.
Movie Highlight
Toilet Encounter: Qizhe’s quiet discomfort meets Red-Hair’s flirtation in a brief, intense moment of public privacy.
The Dumpling Scene: An act of unspoken understanding between mother and son replaces confrontation.
The Mantis Metaphor: A cage, a creature, a metamorphosis—echoing Qizhe’s own transformation.
The Cigarette by the Bridge: A moment of solitary rebellion and muted reflection.
Spring’s Beginning, Youth’s Awakening: The title itself—The Third Solar Term—a metaphor for stirring desire and hesitant steps into adulthood.
The Third Solar Term Review
Review
🌟 Story — 4.5/5
Delicate and observational, the story says more in silence than many films do in dialogue. The Third Solar Term elegantly sidesteps the tropes of LGBTQ melodrama and instead offers a slice of life that’s raw and restrained.
🌟 Acting — 4.5/5
The performances feel almost documentary-like in their realism. The young actor playing Qizhe is especially affecting, his nervous glances and body language conveying volumes.
🌟 Chemistry — 4/5
There’s a charged imbalance between Qizhe and the red-haired man—curiosity and hesitation on one side, playful dominance on the other. It’s not romantic, but it is magnetic, unsettling, and deeply human.
🌟 Production — 5/5
From color grading to sound design, every element is calibrated to evoke an atmosphere of quiet tension. The use of space and light—particularly in cramped domestic settings—is beautifully claustrophobic.
🌟 Ending — 5/5
Bittersweet, introspective, and unresolved in the most honest way. The final moments resonate long after the screen fades to black.
The Third Solar Term Information
Awards & Recognition
🌟 Official Selection at Busan International Short Film Festival
🌟 Nominated for Best Narrative Short at Beijing Queer Film Festival
🌟 Praised by critics for its nuanced portrayal of sexuality and mother-son dynamics
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