the leading man is my tpye

What makes it different from others?

Very well executed

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I've watched this film a couple of times and when you think about it, it would be very hard to make such a film and I congratulate the film makers for this effort. But to give it 1 star because it contains "gratuitous child nudity"? is sick. I am referring to a review further up here who talks about child nudity and sick people who "enjoy" that sort of thing.. You know, since you're pointing all these things out maybe you are one of those people, in denial.. One of those that also have issues with women breast-feeding in public.. I didn't even notice "child nudity".. What i saw is a film about little human beings in a boarding school. It was filmed through the eyes of a little child where everything is natural, including nakedness and bodily functions. I was like that back in Eastern Europe, slightly older, but in a similar situation and it kind of brings back some funny memories. It is this kind of righteous moralistic polemic that stirs me right up.. It is you who is troubled by this "child nudity" so stop projecting your perversity on others PLEASE! This is a great 'little' film.

We are watching the world unfold through the eyes of a child and within minutes we are immersed in his reality as if in our own. What an amazing movie! It's one of those films that not only provokes you to start asking questions but also makes you try to think and find some answers.And what incredible actors these little children are! They can surely teach a lesson in mastership certain "Hollywood stars". And as for the director Yuan Zhang - well, he had created a truly inspiring film!So if you are looking for an interesting, deeply moving and allegorical story, this film is definitely worth seeing!

I'm disappointed by all of the previous comments on this film. This film seemed to me to be far more deeply layered and textured than previous writers have given it credit for.Having studied Chinese film (particulary the work of the 5th generation, which this film isn't part of), it's my understanding that Chinese films can't be 'read' in the same way as Western films. Due to censorship in China Chinese directors find different ways of telling stories, more often than not by dressing them up as something else. Therefore I don't believe that this film can be taken at face value. I don't believe this is a film about a small boy being sent to a kindergarten by his father and trying to earn Little Red Flowers. I think an important thing to notice is the way the boy changes. He starts off hating the regime of the school but wanting to fit in, wanting to earn a red flower, but he never does, so he deliberately alienates himself. There are many scenes where he sets himself apart from the group, and he becomes a rebel - he stirs up unrest amongst the other children. He challenges the authority. This seems to me to be deeply allegorical.I was hoping to read some comments here that would help me understand this film, because I'm finding it puzzling. I found it a very hard film to watch, and I can't say I really enjoyed it. I found it slow and repetitive with far too much emphasis on 'peeing and pooping'. However, I'm finding it a very interesting film to think about and try to decipher. I would very much like to read other readers comments on this. What, for example, is the significance of the hospital? And the children's names? There are many many questions to be answered, and many more to be asked. By my own admission I'm not very good at reading films, but I am aware of what needs to be read!

This is the story of a young boy making a little revolt of his own against his teachers. The plot (if you can call it that) unfolds slowly as we get to follow the kids in their day to day life at the school. The interaction between the kids is great and feels very authentic. Another thing worth mentioning is the photo and the way the camera is always placed in the kids point of view, so the audience always see the adults from below. On the minus side is that many scenes are very predictable and the lack of an actual plot makes it a bit too slow at times. But it's never boring and the heart-warming interaction between the kids as they go their own way makes this a film well worth seeing.