We begin with a chalk-and-cheese meet-cute: Chloe (Mei Mei Macleod) is a kooky student from Britain with Hong Kong heritage who waxes lyrical about Beyoncé; Jonathan (Liam Lau-Fernandez) is a Hong Konger, squarer, and prefers Beethoven. In between their flirting and dancing, their edgy banter includes talk of funerals and self-immolation – an early sign that AJ Yi’s beguiling story will be more than just a cross-cultural romcom.
Chloe returns to Durham University from her holiday encounter in Hong Kong, and is compiling a playlist for Jonathan when she hears of the 2019 pro-democracy student protests there. Change, and even revolution, can come through music, she believes, as she sends him songs by John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Beyonce and Rihanna.
