Not One Less

[dnoblett]

I picked this one up for $3 at the local Big Lots store the other day, and watched it with my Wife this afternoon, a nice story about a poor school in rural China and a 13 year old substitute school teacher who has a great determination to keep her students in school.

 

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r119/LordJD121/NotOneLess.jpg

 

Here is what someone said about it on IMDB:

Not One Less (English title) is a movie that concentrated on why are there so many Chinese children who quit school. Let's face the facts of life...poverty can ruin one's plan for the future, and this was evident in the film. You'll really see how hard life in mainland China is, even though this is a movie. The story is gripping and very realistic. You'll really feel the hardness of being in poverty and having to quit what you're doing. For the characters, Wei is a substitute school teacher who would go to extremes (high determination) from handling a class to walking around the city looking for a missing person.

 

I highly recommend watching this Chinese movie to any movie lover out there. This film is NOT a waste of time, it is simply VERY GOOD.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209189/

[Batmaniac]

We have a Big Lots nearby. I'll have to see if they have it.

[warpedbored]

I've seen this movie. It is very good. It gives a lot of insight into how hard farmer's lives still are in China.

[Randy W]

If I remember right, the lead role plays herself in the movie.

[dnoblett]

If I remember right, the lead role plays herself in the movie.

Yes the cast is played by amateur actors.

[cguo7]

yeah, this sounds like a good movie. I taught in a rural area right outside of Nanchang City in Jiangxi, and many of my university students had never celebrated their birthdays until they had arrived at the university, because their parents were too poor to do so.

 

I picked this one up for $3 at the local Big Lots store the other day, and watched it with my Wife this afternoon, a nice story about a poor school in rural China and a 13 year old substitute school teacher who has a great determination to keep her students in school.

 

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r119/LordJD121/NotOneLess.jpg

 

Here is what someone said about it on IMDB:

Not One Less (English title) is a movie that concentrated on why are there so many Chinese children who quit school. Let's face the facts of life...poverty can ruin one's plan for the future, and this was evident in the film. You'll really see how hard life in mainland China is, even though this is a movie. The story is gripping and very realistic. You'll really feel the hardness of being in poverty and having to quit what you're doing. For the characters, Wei is a substitute school teacher who would go to extremes (high determination) from handling a class to walking around the city looking for a missing person.

 

I highly recommend watching this Chinese movie to any movie lover out there. This film is NOT a waste of time, it is simply VERY GOOD.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209189/

[knloregon]

Not One Less is my absolute favorite Chinese movie. I first saw it because two of the director's--- Zhang Yimou's other movies----"Raise the Red Lantern", and "Red Sorghunm Wine" were so lush---and classically Chinese----full of sub-plots and nuance, messages delivered unspoken, by the plot, the camera..

 

Not One Less it TOTALLY opposite... Straight ahead, extremely austere, very poor countryside. And so authentic, it almost aches. there are light moments, and stunningly beautiful landscapes, but really its a film almost in real time, and very nearly tragic in its modest proportions.

 

It plays out very slowly, but in the end, for me at least, the father of adopted Chinese daughters, its a powerful reaffirmation of China's Red Thread.... Some are lost ..... but some in this culture, of extreme hardship go the extra mile to insure that others are found-----and returned to the cultural whole. -Hard as this turns out to be, it seems to be a routine matter of duty.

 

Almost unimaginable in America's culture of the disposable kids of the inner city, for instance...

[dnoblett]

Not One Less is my absolute favorite Chinese movie. I first saw it because two of the director's--- Zhang Yimou's other movies----"Raise the Red Lantern", and "Red Sorghunm Wine" were so lush---and classically Chinese----full of sub-plots and nuance, messages delivered unspoken, by the plot, the camera..

 

Not One Less it TOTALLY opposite... Straight ahead, extremely austere, very poor countryside. And so authentic, it almost aches. there are light moments, and stunningly beautiful landscapes, but really its a film almost in real time, and very nearly tragic in its modest proportions.

 

It plays out very slowly, but in the end, for me at least, the father of adopted Chinese daughters, its a powerful reaffirmation of China's Red Thread.... Some are lost ..... but some in this culture, of extreme hardship go the extra mile to insure that others are found-----and returned to the cultural whole. -Hard as this turns out to be, it seems to be a routine matter of duty.

 

Almost unimaginable in America's culture of the disposable kids of the inner city, for instance...

If you liked this one, you will like "The Road Home"

 

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/FILM/DVDReviews12/a%20the%20road%20home%20zhang%20yimou%20dvd%20review%201/roadhomeposter2.jpg

 

Also by Zhang Yimou, set in the countryside about a farm town girl's love for the teacher who comes to her village to teach at the elementary school.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235060/

[Jon & Cindy]

Not One Less is my absolute favorite Chinese movie. I first saw it because two of the director's--- Zhang Yimou's other movies----"Raise the Red Lantern", and "Red Sorghunm Wine" were so lush---and classically Chinese----full of sub-plots and nuance, messages delivered unspoken, by the plot, the camera..

 

Not One Less it TOTALLY opposite... Straight ahead, extremely austere, very poor countryside. And so authentic, it almost aches. there are light moments, and stunningly beautiful landscapes, but really its a film almost in real time, and very nearly tragic in its modest proportions.

 

It plays out very slowly, but in the end, for me at least, the father of adopted Chinese daughters, its a powerful reaffirmation of China's Red Thread.... Some are lost ..... but some in this culture, of extreme hardship go the extra mile to insure that others are found-----and returned to the cultural whole. -Hard as this turns out to be, it seems to be a routine matter of duty.

 

 

 

 

Almost unimaginable in America's culture of the disposable kids of the inner city, for instance...

If you liked this one, you will like "The Road Home"

 

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/FILM/DVDReviews12/a%20the%20road%20home%20zhang%20yimou%20dvd%20review%201/roadhomeposter2.jpg

 

Also by Zhang Yimou, set in the countryside about a farm town girl's love for the teacher who comes to her village to teach at the elementary school.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235060/

 

I didn't see 'Not One Less' yet but it does sound promising. The Road Home, on the other hand, I enjoyed a lot. Probably the best acting I've seen from Zhang Ziyi as well.

Edited September 29, 2009 by Jon & Cindy (see edit history)