p.newhouse@talk21.com I found this film disturbing, because it illustrates starkly how foreign a concept democracy has become to the Chinese. This film follows an election campaign for class monitors/prefects in a Chinese primary school, and there is a scene where the teacher struggles to explain what a democracy is, and the children at first struggle to understand the concept of voting for their leaders. Once they get into their stride however, the insults and backstabbing really take off amongst the candidates! So, much like any British general election! This is a very inciteful documentary into the difficulties the Chinese may face in moving towards a democratic future, but there are moments of sheer joy for the viewer.

longoc Film Review: Please Vote for Me The film "Please Vote for Me," directed by Chen Weijun, takes place in Wuhan, China's Evergreen Primary School, 3rd grade class. An experiment about democracy has been conducted. The children of the third grade class are to vote for their Class Monitor. The purpose of this experiment is to see the effects of democracy in China and how it would be received if it were introduced. Within the past 10 years, the world has depended on China's economy. This film delves into the values and ideals of modern China and demonstrates its gradual political change.Throughout the film, the main focus has been on the candidates. Each candidate gained different experiences on their journey through the election. Parental influence was something that had a great effect on the outcome of the election. Cheng Cheng and Luo Lei both had plenty of help from their parents when it came to speeches and gaining favor from their classmates. Xiaofei, however, had no direct influence from her mother. The parents seemed to do everything they could to help their child succeed. Whether there is a great parental influence or not, the candidates easily found their own clever tactics. With the help of their assistants, the candidates found ways to manipulate their classmates, as well as their competitors. This both helped them and hurt them. In the end, Luo Lei came out with a massive win.The approach to the making of this film is mostly 'fly on the wall.' After experiment is initiated, the rest is left untouched. This is an important aspect of the film because, without direct interference, it allows the children in the class and other subjects of the film to live the experiment as accurately as it would be without the presence of the camera. The editing was very simple. It showed important points toward the progression of the election. It was very easy to follow and was very smoothly put together. The cinematography was very straightforward. Without the interference of additional music, the viewer is able to form his own thoughts and opinions toward the situation, instead of being given a feeling or an emotion that is evoked by the intrusion of the director. The only interviews in the film were scarce and brief as a few children were asked "who will you vote for?" Other than that, the director stepped back and simply watched as his film took place.Overall, this film completes its objective. It arouses thoughts and questions about democracy in China. It shows Chinese values and culture in modern China. The growth and political change in China, though gradual, is an active and moving force. All of the children of Evergreen Primary School's third grade class learned new life lessons through this experiment. The candidates were taught to be strong and persistent and to never give up while trying to accomplish their goals. The class and everyone involved received democracy very willingly and valued their right to vote for their Class Monitor.

watsonlt "Please Vote For Me" is a documentary film based on a school in the city of Wuhan, China. The film follows three young children who were chosen by their teacher to run for election to be the class monitor. Since China is a communist country in which the people cannot vote for their leaders, it is a big deal that the children are able to vote for their own class monitor and have a choice. The kids are fourth graders at a primary school called Evergreen Primary and include two boys and one girl; Cheng Cheng, Luo Lei, and Xiaofei.Cheng Cheng, Luo Lei and Xiaofei all begin campaigning to become their class' class monitor. Almost immediately their parents want to get involved in some form. Whether it was helping them memorize their speech, telling them they are playing the flute horribly or bringing in favors to bribe the classmates of their child they were involved throughout the whole endeavor.The students go through the backstabbing, plotting, bribing and finger pointing of the other candidates and fellow students. There are tears, anger, betrayal and of course two losers in the election while one stands in victory.The idea of the film is to see the effects of democracy in a place where democracy isn't present. Would they have the instincts that we in America would when running for office? Or would they have to be told what to do? Maybe they would even have a clean and fair race without the mudslinging. The film shows that regardless of what style of government we have, communist or democratic, the instinct is to win no matter what the candidate has to do.This documentary is very different from the documentary "To Live is Better Than To Die" in which he went into a village and filmed people who were affected by the AIDS virus. The film was so intimate due to the time he spent with the Ma family. He became almost a member of the family with his work.In "Please Vote For Me" the main subjects are Luo Lei, Xiaofei, and Cheng Cheng. While they all look very cute and innocent, each take measures that are very rash. Cheng Cheng looks sweet and kind but he is the main instigator for the plotting. He started the unfair fight with his idea to boo Xiaofei. Luo Lei is a boy who believes that if he hits his classmates they will listen to him, since he has been class monitor before. If he isn't strict then they won't obey what he tells them to do is his thought. Xiaofei, the only girl running, is seen as the weaker link due to her tendencies to cry and "eat slowly." They each join in on taunts and plots to make the other lose. No one is the innocent party in this film. Their parents play roles in this film as well. Xiaofei's mother is a single parent who works in a school. Luo Lei's parents both work at the police department keeping peace in the city.The editing of the film is very smooth as well as the cinematography. The filming generally includes interviews of the children on who they are voting for as well as a view into the schemes and plots of the three running and their parents. The cameramen are never seen (only once due to the positioning of the cameras) and only briefly heard when asking the classmates who are getting their vote. There is no background music through the entire film and the only music that is heard is the music sang by the kids.

jackhongx The doc was filmed in my hometown, and the first thing I noticed is how crappy those kids, teachers and their parents' mandarin sounds:). We never really speak mandarin that often when I was in school, coz it is so uncool. Things definitely changed since I was there, so should I say somethings changed. Chinese people never enjoyed the true democracy since 1949, and the school system we are having just reflects the real society. This class monitor thing is just another part in the dictatorship hierarchy, teachers picked the kids they like to monitor other classmates, and cool kids like me never really care who will be the guy to monitor us coz we will fight the stupid system anyway. Why bother to introduce a democratic system to elect a little dictator anyway. Kids are so keen to get the job coz the power it represents. Parents are so keen to help their kids to win coz they know it will give them bonus at the time they graduate. For teachers, I have no idea, might be just extra fun at work... so anyway. China is never short of voting system, the problem is the government never wants people to understand the true democracy. I have the feeling that the director probably shares a similar feeling to me, which is sort of disappointment about these younger generation, which made me sad. By the way, I was elected as class monitor once in a quite similar way, but teacher refused to accept the result simply because he didn't like me and chose another kid. He said to us about his decision, "I trust you guys and give you the democratic rights, but look at the guy you chose, you are abusing your rights..." :)