Shang xue lu shang (2004)
Directed by Fang Gangliang
AKA: The Story of Xiaoyan / A Unique Schooling
Runtime: 86 min
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Subs: English subbed
Color: Color
Adapted from: Ma Yan's diary / The Diary of Ma Yan (book)
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470532/
Review: http://www.giffoniff.it/cata/2005/conc/ ... yaneng.htm
Ma Yan's diary in US: http://enfantsduningxia.uk.over-blog.co ... 40514.html
Ma Yan's diary in AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006076 ... e&n=283155
Awards:
Golden Butterfly for Best Direction, 20th International Festival of Films for Children and Young Adults, 2005, Isfahan/Iran
Lucas Award for Best Feature Film, 28th Lucas International Children's Film Festival, 2005, Frankfurt/Germany
Golden Elephant Awards for Best Feature Film and Best Direction, 14th Hyderabad International Children Film Festival, 2005, Hyderabad/India
Best Feature Film, Discovery Film Festival for Children and Young People, 2005, Scotland/UK
Best Feature Film Nomination, 35th Giffoni Film Festival, 2005, Italy
Best Feature Film Nomination, 5th Gwangju International Film Festival, 2005, Korea
New Currents Award Nomination, 8th Shanghai International Film Festival, 2005, China
Best Feature Film Nomination, 10th Schlingel International Children's Film Festival, 2005, Germany
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/e ... N=201.html
In Xihaigu, in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the poorest area in China, the summer vacation begins. The teacher, Mr. Wang informs all the children that they will have to pay 24.8 in September, to cover the tuition fee for the new term. Xiao Yan’s struggle begins. In order to continue her schooling and, by the same token, avoid a premature marriage, she has to earn 24.8 Yuan by herself during the summer holidays. She starts her difficult but imaginative process of money making with ten eggs. Ten eggs are turned into 3 Yuan, then 5 Yuan and so on, in order to earn enough money for September.
2004, a remote village in northwest China. There is a popular saying among local businessmen, “If you carry an egg 500 metres away, the egg will be worth 5 Yuan (0.1 $).” Local people are thus accustomed to bargain with goodwill in all situations. This film is a story of how a little girl bargains to earn her tuition fee. 12-year-old Xiao Yan has to discontinue her education as she is unable to afford the fees. She does not want to marry at such an early age and she believes that she can prevent it from happening only by continuing her studies. So she decides to make some money to pay for her education during the summer vacation...
The Jury chooses the Story of Xiao Yan from china for the (best director) prize, because it is succeeding in making a usual story very special. We are living in a world of globalization which is diminishing the special aspects of the ethnic cultures. The director reveals the richness and sensitivity of the remote areas, through colors, spaces, variety of characters in the villages. Through an ordinary story new challenge is leaving the way for the children to search for their character through self exploring and persistence.
NOTE: Highly recommend this excellent little gem to everybody really loves a good movie, this film I think it's one of the best children's film ever made in china, some extent even better than those famous iranian children's film. Simply story, wonderful performance, adorable actors, splendid cinematography, yet the theme is deeply powerful, realistic and thought-provoking...no doubt it will become a child film classic, just like Children of Heaven, Color of Paradise or The Jar.
Screenshots:
Shangxue lushang - Story of Xiaoyan - A Unique Schooling (2004, Fang Gangliang) TVRIP ENG SUB by auess.avi 
