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30/10/1999 Drama 1h 46m
75
User score

In her village, she was the teacher. In the city, she discovered how much she had to learn.

Overview

Set in the People's Republic of China during the 1990s, the film centers on a 13-year-old substitute teacher, Wei Minzhi, in the Chinese countryside. Called in to substitute for a village teacher for one month, Wei is told not to lose any students.

  1. Zhang Yimou

    Director

  2. Xiangsheng Shi

    Writer

Top billed cast

  1. Wei Minzhi

    Wei Minzhi

  2. Zhang Huike

    Zhang Huike

  3. Tian Zhenda

    Village Chief

  4. Gao Enman

    Teacher Gao

  5. Sun Zhimei

    Sun Zhimei

  6. Feng Yuying

    TV Receptionist

  7. Li Fanfan

    TV Host

  8. Zhang Yichang

    Mr. Zhang

  9. Zhanqing Xu

    Brick Factory Owner

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by Alunauwie
Written by Alunauwie on 2025-09-12
The film Not One Less, adapted from Shi Xiansheng’s 1997 story A Sun in the Sky, highlights the real-life struggles of providing education in rural China during the 1990s. With a focus on the nation’s compulsory nine-year education policy, it brings attention to children who are forced to drop out due to poverty and work obligations. This issue remains relevant today, with dropout rates still present in many parts of the world, including Indonesia.

Director Zhang Yimou used non-professional actors in their real-life roles, making the film’s emotional depth feel raw and authentic. Wei ...read the rest
Read All Reviews

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Status
Released

Original Language
Chinese

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords