This movie was touted as a must-see, especially for couples, with its theme of school violence that is quite brave for China, and I have to admit, for a while it managed to keep me interested. The suicide of a schoolgirl, the main character suffering from her peers' violence, with only one mysterious person out there to support her - how could that not be moving? Is it that the Chinese movie industry has finally come to age and movies on difficult topics are now being made?
However, it is a Chinese movie, and no matter how brave they dare to be, there is a set of rules that they have to follow. Bad guys have to be in prison, policemen and women cannot be corrupt even slightly (lest justice will be served as always), and so on. For this reason, the emotional conflict and hard decisions of the main characters are completely spoiled when they decide to admit what they have done and surrender after talking to a policeman once, and the final accord is one of the lead actors telling us about how we should be vigilant about school violence, and about oh so many things the government does to prevent it; instead of leaving some food for thought to the viewers, the film decides to spoon-feed, and that does ruin the impression quite a bit.
You will probably not see this movie outside of China, and its cinema run is coming to an end now, but if you do, try to appreciate the fact that this movie is doing something new for the ever more conservative modern Chinese cinema at this difficult time. There are some bits and pieces that might make you feel something, and some of the shots are really beautifully made.
However, it is a Chinese movie, and no matter how brave they dare to be, there is a set of rules that they have to follow. Bad guys have to be in prison, policemen and women cannot be corrupt even slightly (lest justice will be served as always), and so on. For this reason, the emotional conflict and hard decisions of the main characters are completely spoiled when they decide to admit what they have done and surrender after talking to a policeman once, and the final accord is one of the lead actors telling us about how we should be vigilant about school violence, and about oh so many things the government does to prevent it; instead of leaving some food for thought to the viewers, the film decides to spoon-feed, and that does ruin the impression quite a bit.
You will probably not see this movie outside of China, and its cinema run is coming to an end now, but if you do, try to appreciate the fact that this movie is doing something new for the ever more conservative modern Chinese cinema at this difficult time. There are some bits and pieces that might make you feel something, and some of the shots are really beautifully made.