Synopsis
A Cultural Revolution escapee crosses the desert to glimpse a single second of his daughter on a propaganda newsreel.
What makes One Second worth watching
Zhang Yimou's love letter to film projection.
One Second represents a strong example of china drama from the 2020 production cycle. Chinese studios have spent the past decade refining the kind of long-form storytelling on display here — careful character work, restrained pacing in the early episodes, and a willingness to let emotional beats land without overstatement. The blend of Drama and Historical elements gives the show its tonal signature, sitting somewhere between mainstream comfort viewing and prestige drama.
The cast is led by Zhang Yi, Liu Haocun, Fan Wei. It originally aired on Huanxi Media, and has since travelled internationally through the streaming partnerships listed above.
Where to watch One Second online
You can currently stream One Second on the following platforms (regional availability varies):
- MUBI — see all MUBI Asian drama listings on DramaSeek.
Streaming rights for Asian dramas shift constantly. We update each title page when a new platform picks up a series or a contract expires. If a service is geo-locked in your region, see our guide to legitimate options for international drama viewers.
If you liked One Second
Viewers who enjoy One Second typically also enjoy other china drama. Below are six closely related titles drawn from our catalogue, ranked by genre and country overlap.
