A warm and immortal promise

Lola 2022-12-19 22:32:52

The film, directed by Zhang Yimou, won the Golden Lion Award at the 56th Venice Film Festival. The barren open land sets the tone for this film from the start, and it's definitely not going to be a refreshing movie. In the film, there are no gorgeous shots, the most direct narrative technique, and the most realistic natural sound, explaining the whole process except the whole story. In the film, Wei Minzhi became a substitute teacher for 50 yuan, and set foot on the road to the city because of Teacher Gao's "take a good look at the students, none of them can be missing". The director took great pains to shape the character Wei Minzhi. From 50 yuan to the determination to find Zhang Huike, it is a transition from material to spiritual, and it is the sublimation of Wei Minzhi's character. At first, Wei Minzhi had a laissez-faire attitude towards the naughty Zhang Huike. When a student came to complain, Wei Minzhi would never tire of shouting, "I can't control it, I can't control it." At that time, Wei Minzhi was not a real teacher. However, Zhang Huike really left, but she went through untold hardships to find him. She took the children to move bricks, mix cars, and write missing people notices at the station. Throughout the night, the director skillfully used superimposed paintings, and Wei Minzhi's figure was blurred and gradually clear. The woman sleeping beside her was compared with Wei Minzhi's busy figure to show Wei Minzhi's persistent appearance. Also at the entrance of the TV station, the director also used superimposed paintings. From morning to afternoon, Wei Minzhi's wandering figure made the audience have to be moved. In the last TV show, the director gave Wei Minzhi a long close-up. She was crying in the camera. She should have realized who she is. This is the real people's teacher Wei Minzhi. She found Zhang Huike and achieved herself. Many times people would rather care about an actor's lace gossip than care about the living conditions of people in this corner of the world, but in this film, the most real and beautiful side of human nature is reflected. The children got 15 yuan from moving bricks, and took their hands to buy a Coke. The music was filled with joy, but it made people reflect for a while. Two bottles of Coke have nearly 30 student points. What is the reaction under their smiling faces? When Wei Minzhi was writing a missing person notice at the station, the music was sad, what was this? Just the imbalance of the regional education system is the drawback of the whole development. The relief is that when Zhang Huike was starving, someone gave him food, and Wei Minzhi also waited for the station director. Through this series of ordinary people, the director showed the audience the warmth of society. In the end, Zhang Huike went home with love supplies and the desire to go to school. The director's use of long shots at the end pushed the film to a higher depth. Children no longer have to worry about chalk, they stand on tiptoe, reach out, and write stroke by stroke on the blackboard, writing out their best hopes for the future. Documentary-style authenticity, full-bodied characters, and warm real emotions, undoubtedly do not make this film outstanding. If we want to trace the source, maybe it is Teacher Gao's "one must not be missing" or Wei Minzhi's own stubbornness, but more is the care and love given by this society, which has created such a group of kind, naive, brilliant and persistent children. This is also gratifying to most people, this society is still very kind.

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Extended Reading

Not One Less quotes

  • TV Host: Do you like the city?

    Zhang Huike: Yes.

    TV Host: What is good about it?

    Zhang Huike: The city is beautiful and prosperous. Much better than the country.

    TV Host: What's the most lasting impression?

    Zhang Huike: That I had to beg for food. I will always remember that.