Education is considered a vital part of our life as it helps us be better people in society. Education is considered a fundamental right for everyone, be they rich or poor. It helps to shape people for a better future. Nowadays, in the education system, it is a rat race which pressurizes students to do better than the other person. Many films try to show the importance of the education system as movies help to convey a message to society. The top ten Chinese movies on the education system.
1. Please Vote For Me
Please Vote For Me is a 2007 documentary directed by Weijun Chen. It shows the election for a class monitor of the third-grade class at Evergreen Primary School. Class monitoring election helps the students learn about democracy, and how voting works and helps to maintain relationships with each other.
2. Not One Less
Not one less is a film released in 1999. The story is about Wei Minzhi, a 13-year-old substitute teacher. She is called for one month when the village teacher leaves for a month. She is told not to lose any students. One of the boys takes off to the big city in search of work. This film shows the divide between the condition of the urban and rural education systems. Many students who want to earn money leave their studies.
3. The Class Of One
The Class of One is a 2018 film directed by Li Junlin. It is based on Zeng Qingpinq, a real-life teacher. The film tells the story of song Wenhua, a substitute teacher who only has one student Tang Mingming in the village. Tang comes from a poor background his father died in an accident while working in the city.
4. Song Of Youth
The Song of Youth is a comedy-drama film released in 2019 and directed by Luan Zhang. The film is set in the 1980s in a distant mountain town. The story is about Miao, a rigorous teacher and his new high school senior class. He is a strict teacher and is in charge of rebellious students. It shows a growing relationship between the teacher and his students and how they all start respecting him.
5. American Dreams In China
American Dreams In China is a Chinese comedy film released in 2013 and directed by Peter Chan. The story is about three friends Cheng Dongqing, Meng Xiaojun and Wang Yang who are studying at Yenching Academy. They are also preparing for their American visa interviews. Wang is the first to be granted a visa but declines to stay with his girlfriend. Cheng is repeatedly denied a visa. Meng is the only one to get a study visa, who while leaving tells his friends he has no intention to return. The film shows the craze people have for going abroad.
6. Little Big Master
Little Big Master is a film released in 2015 based on the real-life story of Lilian Lui. The story is about a headmistress of an elite kindergarten who quotes her job due to the pressure of the educational system. She takes a job at Yuen Tin Kindergarten with less salary to help them from closing. They only had five students who were too poor to study anywhere. The film shows the class divide in the country.
7. Education, Education
Education, Education is a documentary released in 2012 directed by Weijun Chen. In earlier times it was believed that the only way out of poverty is education. China’s economic talk of hard work created an expectation that to escape poverty you should study. Currently, China’s higher education system only gives jobs to a few. The film shows the competition across the country and the pressure it puts on students.
8. Big Brother
Big Brother is a 2018 action and drama film about Henry Chen, a teacher. The film is about a school which is not performing well so they hire a new teacher, Henry Chan. He helps the students in improving their studies with his unique teaching style. After this students start taking interest in their studies. He is even dealing with a greedy businessman and his goons, who are trying to take their school property.
9. Better Days
Better Days is a 2019 drama film. It is based on the novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty. The film is about Chen Nian, a teenage girl who is severely bullied by her classmates and even struggles with upcoming college entrance exams. Her life is intertwined with a bunch of teenage street thugs who save her from the bullies.
10. The Ark Of Mr. Chow
The Ark of Mr. Chow comedy-drama film was released in 2015 and directed by Yang Xiao. The film is about a group of intelligent teenagers who are enrolled in a special college program for young geniuses. The teenagers were socially awkward among their peers as they all are going through puberty.
