Movie review by: Jessie Teo
Click here for pictures I have watched a few of Zhang Yi Mou's film
before. "Not One Less" is yet another heartwarming film which is part
social-documentary and part humour. The storyline of the movie is simple and traditional.
But it stirs up something for the audience to think about.
I saw a lot of pitiful faces in this movie. The little boys and girls are poor. They
are not as lucky as our kids in Malaysia. There is a scene which impressed me; a student
wrote in her dairy describing how Teacher Gao appreciate chalk. But a naughty boy in the
class destroyed it.
I wonder how a small child would feel about this movie when they watch it. Actually, I
noticed some parents bringing their children along to watch this movie.
I would like to conclude that this is a good movie. It is simple but meaningful. Why
not go to the cinema and visit the class of 28 small kids? You may like this movie. I
certainly did.
A 13-year-old girl in an
impoverished village is assigned the daunting task of standing in for her teacher, who has
to tend to his sick mother in another village. She has given her word that when her
teacher returns a month later, not one pupil would have dropped out from the class of 28.
She sets out to fulfill her duty with an undaunted spirit. However, when times are hard
and the young have to shoulder the responsibility of putting food on the table, educations
goes out the door. Hence when one of the students goes to the city to work, the young
teacher unrelentless persues him to bring him back to the classroom. 
