NOT ONE LESS (G). (Columbia Tristar) Director: Zhang Yimou Stars: Wei Minzhi, Zhang Huike, Tian Zhenda, Gao Enman, Sun Zhimei, Feng Yuying, Wu Wanlu, Zhang Yichang, Li Fanfan Running time: 106 minutes.
In criticising the failures of contemporary Chinese society, director Zhang Yimou (Raise The Red Lantern, etc) prefers to use an iron fist enclosed in a velvet glove.
Although his films have been widely acclaimed internationally, they have been less than favourably received at home by his political masters, who have banned them in China. His latest film is also bound to earn the wrath of Chinese authorities, wary of any overt criticism or hint of failure of their great social revolution.
Based on a true story, Not One Less depicts the very real problems facing China's education system. Much of the film is set in the primary school of the rural village of Shuiguan. The school itself is run down and under-resourced, and the teacher is badly paid. The teacher even has to carefully ration chalk and other supplies to make them last. Thirty students are crammed into one dilapidated classroom. Alarming statistics tell us that 1.5 million Chinese children are forced to leave school every year, many at a young age, to find work to help their parents pay off their mounting debts.
When the school's regular teacher Gao has to go to the city to visit his sick mother, the mayor appoints thirteen year old Wei Minzhi as his replacement. Because of declining class sizes, Gao promises her a bonus if no student leaves the school during his absence. Barely older than her charges, and lacking a university education herself, Wei has little idea of what to do, and seems unconcerned with whether the students actually learn anything or not.
Then Zhang Huike, one of her students, is forced to head off to the city to find work to support his desperately impoverished family. Wei heads off to the city to find him and bring him home. But in the harsh, unfamiliar environment of the sprawling city, Wei's task is not an easy one. Initially it is unclear whether Wei is acting out of genuine concern for the welfare of her charge or out of personal self interest.
Yimou beautifully draws a sharp contrast between the prosperity of the modern cities and the abject poverty rife throughout much of rural China. Although young Zhang is impressed by the beauty and prosperity of the city, his most indelible memory is that he had to beg for food.
This is a simple story, elegantly and beautifully told. Not One Less lacks the histrionics of most American films depicting the decline of the education system (187, The Principal, The Substitute, etc) and painting American schools as some sort of urban battle zone in which there are few winners. Yimou's sense of restraint and understatement is evident in the deceptively gentle pace and rhythm of the film. The film also looks gorgeous, thanks to the cinematography of Hou Yong.
Yimou deliberately uses non professional actors here, with many of the performers virtually playing themselves, which adds to the overall sense of realism. The young Huike has a natural, appealing screen presence, while Wei captures the petulance, naivete and desperation of her character beautifully. There is often a telling self consciousness about some of the performances, while others seem remarkably relaxed, unrehearsed and natural.
**1/2 greg king http://www.netau.com.au/gregking
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