From Zhang Yimou, the celebrated Chinese director of such stateside arthouse hits as Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern and To Live, comes a Grade-A (or A-) slice of rural life drama. Wei Minzhi gives an extraordinary performance as a 13-year-old who is charged by the mayor of her remote village to watch over a classroom of 28 children while the regular teacher tends to his ill mother. Unlike Truffaut's Small Change, these children, portrayed by non-professionals, do not live in a state of grace. So poor is the school that chalk is a precious commodity and is carefully rationed; so poor is the region that students are forced by their families to drop out and look for work. Since subsidies depend on class size, Wei is promised that if she can maintain the class size at 28 students--"not one less"--she will be paid extra. While occasionally polemic, the charming, naturalistic performances make this a joy to behold. Highly recommended. (K. Lee Benson)
Not One Less
Columbia TriStar, 106 min., in Mandarin w/English subtitles, G, VHS: $98.99, DVD: $29.95 Vol. 15, Issue 5
Not One Less
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