Just watched a movie from 1999 or so, made in and about China, called Not One Less (see also wikipedia). It won several awards, including Best Picture for 1999 Venice International Film Festival, and the Audience Award for the 1999 Sao Paulo International Film Festival.
A poor 13 year old gets a job teaching a rural elementary school, and in order to get paid, she can’t lose even one student. This takes her to extreme and touching lengths. It’s also kinda funny – in an extremely dry way.
At first the traditional teaching – rote copying – is difficult to watch, and in general the first 1/2 of the movie moves slow – but somehow almost impossibly – out of ignorance and through selfish disregard for social conventions – real learning happens. That doesn’t mean the students or people are selfish – but you have to see it. Respond in the comments.
It’s worth watching. The methodical and endemic exploitation and expediency of the movie can teach those new to authentic modern Chinese culture. Everyone is human, and everyone is essentially good, but bad things happen. The happy ending at the end is unexpected and yet believable.
It does smell vaguely of the deus-ex machina I’ve discussed earlier, but this appeals to a global audience. Bear with the initial pace and you will be rewarded with a thoughtful and memorable experience.
I recommend it.
