Not One Less Movie Review

Yimou Zhang's film serves as a centerpiece of life in a small rural village outside of the big city. This film also reflects just how careless the big city can be towards people especially those with very little or no money. The message that I took away from this film is that each person has to deal with life in their own way. Life is not fair and the way that some people are forced to live shows just how bad life can be for some. The only bright spot is that dedication to education has not been lost, which is greatly seen in the character of Wei Minzhi. Her dedication to not leaving one student behind gives hope and a sense of fulfillment to those who have little hope or none at all. As the viewer "Not One Less" is a heart wrenching story about poverty, human dignity, city life and education. Here's the trailer for "Not One Less":

China has always been a center for controversy. Throughout hundreds of years China has been through a lot of political and personal changes; for example, the Opium Wars of the 1840's had serious effects on China and their trading. China has also changed reigns more times than a reindeer. Imperialism was what China was before 1911, until the Qing Dynasty was overthrown by Dr. Sun Yat Sen. He was the founder of the Republic of China. After 1911 many things would still go wrong; for example, Chiang Kai Shek's corrupt government rule in the 1940's, which led to the Chinese Civil War in 1949 (Communist vs. Nationalist). WW2 was another huge event that shaped China the way it is today because of Japan's colony rule on certain parts of China. Here's a clip of an original history presentation that aired in several parts on US networks many years ago using compiled clips about the history of RED CHINA as it was back in the 1960's and 1970's. Nixon was first US president to visit communist china. I hope you enjoy this piece of historic video:

"Not One Less" is critical of the Chinese Government in a way and rightfully so. The conditions in which Chinese Village people have to deal with is sad and especially those in the crowded cities. That is no way to live crowded, poor and careless toward human life. Because there is so much human life (population) in China, this does prompt why people and the government do not care and that is because there are so many people. The gap between the rich and poor is seen throughout the world, but I believe that between America and China, they are the kings of rich and poor because the gaps are so vast! There is a cruel side to every government is what "Not One Less" also represents. It doesn't show this is a very obvious and violent way, but it is there to be seen. Here is a clip of the Tiananmen Square incident from 1989, in which many people were wounded, killed and arrested. Protesters in the streets and tanks being called in as well. This show cases the violence that China has at their finger tips to unleash anytime they wish:

Any society has its problems. All over the globe the issues that are seen in this movie are seen in everyday life especially in places that are lower income and live under dictatorship. America is even not what it used to be. Education is one thing that gives insight to those who need it and to those that live for it. Understanding is a tool that some governments try to surpress. Giving education to people makes them form their own opinions on what is what and what is wrong. Society is based upon information to create and build, but there are those who try not to build however, they try to destroy and keep everything for themselves and their elite families. America, China, Africa, etc all have their own selective power to control everything from food to modern inventions. Zhang's film shows the difference between elite people and poor people. There are those who have too much wealth and don't deserve it. Here's a clip of some wealth holders:

Chinese cinema is very intriguing. Although I have not seen to many chinese film except for mostly kung fu movies a lot of Chinese films are very different from that of America. The stories and style of filming are in their own category. Too talk about more modern choices of cinema here's an example of Chinese entertainment, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon":

Also the movies of Bruce Lee are probably the finest example of Chinese Kung Fu Cinema.

Lee's unfortunate death ended what was a most promising career. Here's a clip from a Kung Fu

classic, "Enter the Dragon", which also co-stars John Saxon. This is probably the most americanized

kung fu film ever made:

The music in "Not One Less" also gives a taste of the styles for that region musically. The score complements

the movie perfectly. In creating the atmosphere of the village and then the atmosphere of the

big city when the teacher goes looking for her lost student.

Overall this film is an effective drama that tells an honest story about survival and caring. Life has its problems, but those who are smart

enough will overcome those problems to hopefully come to find an honest understanding of the way life is. Some things need change and others

need to be changed.