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Not One Less on DVD (1999)

Not One Less cover art
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Average rating: (73%)
1112210132048
3.5
 
Starring: Wei Minzhi | Zhang Huike
Director: Yimou Zhang
Studio: SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 102 mins
Certificate: U
User collections: World Cinema | Chinese Films
Genres: Drama | World Cinema
Languages: Mandarin
Subtitles: Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norweigan, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Released: 17/09/2001

Brief synopsis of Not One Less

Teacher Gao loves the students in his poor village and is devoted to educating them in the hope of their greater futures. When he is called away to tend to his dying mother for a month, the Mayor calls in an inexperienced 13 year-old replacement, Wei Minzhi; much to Teacher Gao's dismay. Teacher Gao cannot stand the thought of losing anymore students: he has already lost twelve to ever-increasing attrition, and he promises Wei an extra 10 yuan if she succeeds in ensuring that upon his return, there will be not one less. Wei's difficult mission to fulfill Teacher Gao's wish and her own concern for the welfare of the children begins.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Shades of The Story of Qiu Ju colour this sentimental but engaging drama from director Zhang Yimou. Wryly humanist but subtly political, the winner of the Golden Lion at Venice starts out in a poor village school whose enrolment is more important than its teaching. However, once 13-year-old stand-in teacher Wei Minzhi sets off to retrieve the runaway student who can deprive her of a bonus for keeping all 28 charges in class, the focus is that of a powerful contemporary urban drama. Made with a non-professional cast, the movie includes a sublime performance from Wei, and remains heart-warming without losing the power of its message.

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Zhang Yimou coaxes good performances from a cast of non-professionals in a small-scale movie that begins as a vivid portrait of modern China before succumbing to sentimentality, complete with a plug for Coca-Cola, and a contrived, feel-good ending.

Box Office

"...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..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsNot one less

Professor Cornelieus from London , 03/11/2003

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.

  14 out of 14 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starstruely a part of China

A customer from Shanxi, China , 16/03/2005

Firstly I have to tell you I come from China, but my hometown is the capital of the country, which we've got abserlutly different life from the firm. in our world, children has very best environment and education, we don't have to worry about life, school, and something very basic. after the first time I saw the film, i was totally supprised about the lifestyle they have! I suddenly found there are still a lot children in our country need help!

But through the film I also saw something that will never happend in our life! a 13 years old primry school teacher could speed her all to find one of her student! not because of the 50 yuan, but just for the responsibility! she promised the previous teacher to take care of these children, and finally she did it!

acturelly I don't really like the director, because he alway shows the other face of China to the world, but this one, never makes me disapointed, don't miss it!

another film from Yimou Zhang which I really recommanded is a film called 'to live' that's his best film ever, at list in my mind! don't miss it!

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsDon't let Ofsted see this one!

Fuzzman from Mid Glamorgan , 03/12/2004

An enthralling and constantly surprising story. I can't think of any movie which dares to have such a selfish, irresponsible dumb-bell as the lead yet not alienate the viewer's sympathies. Zhang's direction of the non-professionals was superb right from the opening shot: never does the acting appear amateurish.

Many reviewers have sneered at the film's subservience to the Chinese authorities, but I don't see that at all. Surely Beijing can't have been happy at the depiction of rural life.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 stars

James#117 from BRISTOL , 24/10/2004

very moving and touching film, exposing the poorer areas of china through the eyes of school children. the acting is convincing and story well told.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 5 starsExcellent film

A customer from Beckenham. england , 29/08/2008

I really enjoyed this film which was quite realistic about life in the countryside in China. the study of the young teacher's determination to fulfill her duty was remarkable and her detemination in the end bore some fruit

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