Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone lead the cast of La La Land, which will open across China on Feb 14.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Alongside lead actor Ryan Gosling, Chazelle was in the Chinese capital to promote the upcoming feature on Monday and Tuesday.

The premiere date purposely echoes the story: An aspiring actress (Emma Stone), falls in love with a struggling jazz pianist (Gosling). But when success arrives, conflicts emerge, pushing the partners apart.

"Hopeful it's a completely universal love story that anyone in the world can relate to," says Chazelle.

Near the end of the film, the actress soars as a celebrated star, as the pianist establishes his own jazz club, reconciling both of their dreams with reality.

Ordinary people can see the bittersweet reflection of their own stories in the movie－the struggles, striving, disappointments, joy and mourning for an unreachable past.

Once a drummer and a newbie in Los Angeles, Chazelle says La La Land is inspired partly on his personal experiences.

The Harvard graduate moved to the big city in 2008 and spent a lonely period in Tinseltown struggling for his dream. Gosling, the Canadian actor who shot to fame in the 2004 romance The Notebook, says he could also relate to that feeling when he assumed the role.