A determined 13-year-old girl substitutes as a village school's teacher and must find the class troublemaker after he runs away. Q&A to follow.
Wei Minzhi, a 13‑year‑old substitute teacher, must cover a village school for one month and will not receive her salary if any of the students drop out. When a boy leaves to seek work in a nearby city, Wei follows to bring him back. Shot in a neorealist, documentary style, the film uses non-professional actors playing versions of themselves, blurring the line between fiction and lived reality through simplicity, restraint, and careful observation of community. [106 min; drama; Mandarin with English subtitles]
A Q&A will follow the screening.
“A triumph of neorealism and an extremely well-shot movie that manages to present its comments in the most eloquent fashion though a captivating story.” – Panos Kotzathanasis, Asian Movie Pulse
“Wei sets off on a rescue odyssey that derives humor from the young heroine's alarmingly steely determination and pathos from the film's stark depiction of life on the street.” – Dennis Lim, Out Magazine
“As charming as it is important, Not One Less has all the elements of a great drama: inspiring performances, the ability to make one laugh and cry and a subject matter worthy of further contemplation.” – Annlee Ellingson, Boxoffice Magazine
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
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