ACK! This Was a GREAT Movie

**Gail Simone** · 03-11-2005, 10:17 PM

NOT ONE LESS

It's a Chinese film, but for those of you with Netflix or a great video story, let me just say, if you have a heart at all, RENT THIS MOVIE.

Like many Chinese films, the drama is at a much quieter, slower pace, but then when the emotional stuff kicks in, katie bar the door because it'll put you on your ass.

An amazing performance by the very young lead actress, one of the most unforgettable I've ever seen.

The story is, a young girl who hasn't even been to High School herself yet is sent to be a substitute teacher for a tiny peasant villiage in modern rural China. She's promised a bonus (I believe, if I know my yuan) a bonus of something like a dollar fifty for the month if none of the kids leave the school.

One of the kids leaves for the city to work, and the teacher, Wei, only thirteen herself and with NO money at all, goes to find him.

This is what movies should be, I say. Go rent this thing!

Gail

**Lunar Daydreamer** · 03-11-2005, 10:35 PM

I have this on order actually via 'welovefilms' and was really taken with the premise, thanks to your recommendation i'll move it up a few notches on my 'wants' list :)

**Cam63** · 03-12-2005, 02:02 AM

Heh ! I still haven't gotten around to seeing Musa the Warrior yet and I've owned it for over a month :)

I'll add Not One Less to the list.

**YoGo** · 03-12-2005, 07:54 AM

Omg, i nearly cried reading your description. Well not really, but it sounds good too.

If you liked that then try 'The Way Home'.

I mentioned this in the original Asian cinema thread. Its recounts how a rebellious little boy from the city is dumped by his mother in the countryside in a small village. There he has to live with his mute grandmother whom he's never met and has no desire to get close to.

She is the most gracious and forgiving character i have seen onscreen, in spite of her grandson being such a brat. As one reviewer noted, she is mother nature to his city brat and warms you with her truly selfless acts of love in spite of his selfish and sometimes cruel behaviour.

**Gail Simone** · 03-12-2005, 09:10 AM

I watched THE WAY HOME on your recommendation, YoGo, and it IS a beautiful film. The amazing thing about the peasant grandmo in that film is not only is she a real peasant from remote China, not only had she never acted before, she'd never even SEEN a movie before. YOW!

Gail

**YoGo** · 03-12-2005, 12:14 PM

spoiler:

Didn't the bit where she walked all the way home because she had enough money for only her grandson to take the bus just tug at your heart strings?! And he wouldnt even take the bag of groceries from her! Bawl!!!

When I saw her hobbling back, I wanted to get up and take the groceries from her!

**berk** · 03-13-2005, 07:07 AM

I totally agree that Not One Less is a must-see. There are so many powerfully moving scenes, I won't even try to start listing them. Some of the best are quiet little moments that pass by without any overt effort at drawing the viewer's attention to them (e.g. with sappy music, showy camera work, etc.) . The director lets the story unfold from the characters' actions, without "comment".

The Way Home sounds like another one. I'll have to track it down.

**YoGo** · 03-13-2005, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

I watched THE WAY HOME on your recommendation, YoGo, and it IS a beautiful film. The amazing thing about the peasant grandmo in that film is not only is she a real peasant from remote China, not only had she never acted before, she'd never even SEEN a movie before. YOW!

Gail

Extreme method acting.

That's what it is.

I do have a question btw. Where do you guys get your asian movies? It sounds like you managed to pick up this movie pretty fast and I was always under the impression you had to order it from the internet or find a video store in Chinatown.

**berk** · 03-13-2005, 02:56 PM

I saw Not One Less a few years ago at the local repertory theatre. I live nearby, so I get to see lots of foreign movies, often only a few months to a year after the original release. Other stuff I've ordered on the web; there's also a video-renatal store I discovered last summer that stocks a very good supply of Asian and European movies. So I'm pretty lucky. All I have to do is find time to watch them!

Thinking of some of teh classroom scenes in the one-room school in Not One Less reminded me of another film I'd like to recommend. This one's from France, and it's called "Etre et Avoir". It's a documentary about a one-room school in rural France, and it is absolutely amazing. I can't recommend it highly enough. One of the best film-viewing experiences I've ever had. If you haven't already seen it, give it a shot.

**Briareos** · 03-13-2005, 03:05 PM

Has anyone seen Battle Royale? How about Perfect Blue?

**YoGo** · 03-14-2005, 03:18 AM

I think it's time to start the Asian cinema thread up again...

**f. chong rutherford** · 03-14-2005, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

I watched THE WAY HOME on your recommendation, YoGo, and it IS a beautiful film. The amazing thing about the peasant grandmo in that film is not only is she a real peasant from remote China, not only had she never acted before, she'd never even SEEN a movie before. YOW!

Gail

Um, The Way Home (Jibeuro) is Korean. It's written and directed by Lee Jeong-hyang.

**Lunar Daydreamer** · 03-14-2005, 12:51 PM

Shaolin Soccer and Ju-On: The Grudge arriving at my house tomorrow - yaaaaaaaay! :)

**MicBK** · 03-14-2005, 12:54 PM

The director of "Not One Less" is Zhang Yimou, who also did the recent "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers"....other films that are great by him are "To Live", "Raise the Red Lantern" , "Ju Dou" and to a lesser extent - "The Road Home", "Happy Times" and "Shanghai Triad"....give these a look!