WEEK 3.2 NOT ONE LESS - YIMOU ZHANG

Not One Less, directed by Yimou Zhang, in 1999

Comment: 

    I was given the task to create a commentary about one of the theme in Not One Less movie which directed by Yimou Zhang. The film shows the growing urban-rural divide in China. By the time Wei, the thirteen years old substiute teacher for Shuiquan village's school reaches Zhangjikou, the film creates a contrast between urban an d rurral life, when the two location seperates only by a dark tunnel. The city is not describe as peaceful and brimming with happiness despite the growing technologies and building, but instead that rural people are faced with difficulties and discrimination in the city. Wei's first impression of the city was that the people were well dressed and modern buildings, while the living quarters she goes to in order to search Zhang Huike are cramped and underdeveloped. In addition, the iron gate of a TV station company where Wei waits all day to meet the director reflects the barrier poor people faced to the survival of the city. The frequent frame cut during the film shows Wei and Zhang wandering aimlessly in the streets, Zhang staring at the food hungrily unable to afford it and Wei sleeping on the sidewalk. This highlight further the theme of urban-rural divide shows in the film.