Not one less

Why this movie did not achieve world wide renown is a mystery, because

it is one of the most touching, honest films i've ever seen. It has a vivid sense of place - a dirt-poor, dusty,

forgotten village in China's

mountains where a piece of chalk in the run-down school is a precious

commodity.

The film focuses on the trials and challenges of a 13 year old teacher

with an unshakeable sense of duty who has to teach an unruly class. A

wonderful adventure unfolds, involving ultimately an entire television

station, and to cap it all the film is acted by amateurs.

This is a haunting classic of world cinema.