Not One Less
In her village, she was the teacher. In the city, she discovered how much she had to learn.
1999 • 106 min • Drama
Synopsis
Set in the People's Republic of China during the 1990s, the film centers on a 13-year-old substitute teacher, Wei Minzhi, in the Chinese countryside. Called in to substitute for a village teacher for one month, Wei is told not to lose any students.
Our family guide
Best from age 8- 100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
- 75 Audience · 199 · 49%
A young substitute teacher in a remote Chinese village is tasked with ensuring no students leave during her month-long tenure. When one student departs for the city, she embarks on a determined journey to find him. It’s a touching story of responsibility and perseverance.
- Violence & peril
- 1/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 1/10
Heads up
- Some brief moments of sadness and worry
What it models well
- Perseverance and determination
- Empathy and responsibility
- Importance of education
- Community and helping others
Talk about it after
- The challenges faced by rural communities
- The value of education for everyone
- Why Wei Minzhi was so determined
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Not One Less. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Rent
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
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- Apple TV Store
- Fandango At Home
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Top billed cast
Director: Zhang Yimou • Crew: Xiangsheng Shi
Trailers & clips
Imprint Blu-ray Trailer
Not One Less (1999) - Check Trailer
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersThe film Not One Less, adapted from Shi Xiansheng’s 1997 story A Sun in the Sky, highlights the real-life struggles of providing education in rural China during the 1990s. With a focus on the nation’s compulsory nine-year education policy, it brings attention to children who are forced to drop out due to poverty and work obligations.…
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