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Product Description
Based on the semi-autobiographical novel Could be Beautiful by Wang Shuo, the best-selling bad boy of contemporary Chinese literature, Little Red Flowers is a poignant and touching drama.
Review
There's something self-consciously quaint about Zhang Yuan's adaptation of Wang Shuo's semi-autobiographical novel about a 1950s Chinese toddler who kicks against the system. Yet, while depicting Dong Bowen as an adorable moppet whose failure to win any of the eponymous rewards for good behaviour prompts his rebellion against strict kindergarten teacher Zhao Rui, Yuan also suggests that sometimes a little conformity isn't a bad thing. Indeed, he's careful not to make the allegorical boarding facilities too forbidding or the regime overly draconian. But it's still impossible not to side with Dong's increasingly brazen acts of non-conformity, which culminate in a Lilliputian bid to tie Zhao down to her bed after he convinces his classmates that she's a child-eating monster. Perhaps too episodic to engross, this is, nevertheless, a real charmer. --David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
This film uses simple subtitles only when needed as the expressive quality of the many little childrens' faces especialy the lead boy is astonishing. The scene is set in a large, busy residential state kindergarten with only two appearances of any parents.Being suddenly dropped off by his father the 4yr old boy knows nothing of toilet-training and other regimented routines, and is initiated firmly by the female staff with the resulting bewilderment of the child and his eventual rebellion and isolation.The film's colour is sensitive in contrast to a political regime being imposed on the very young children. At times relentless its without aggression,more like a dream, its captivating. The music throughout is well crafted for East/West fusion and there are amusing, delightful scenes of Play with excellent child voices. Underlying concerns build up tension for the filmwatcher but its resolved with a heartrending not artificial ending.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Who would have thought that a film about a load of 4 year old Chinese kids in post ww2 China would be so engaging. The director must be a very patient man to get the performances from the young actors. Very entertaining and heart-warming film.
Briefly, I just loved this film and I wanted to give it a 5 star rating. I got it from my local library and then bought it because I wanted to see it again and to be able to lend it to friends and show it to my boyfriend. I found it charming and good looking and also thought provoking.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of the great studies of childhood.
This ought to be on the same shelf as Pather Panchali and The 400 Blows. Fan Qiang is four years old and a natural charmer, individualist and boat rocker. Read more
Published 17 months ago
Far better than the Home Alone movies.
The film is based on Chinese writer Wang Shuo's semi-autobiographical novel 'Could Be Beautiful', and plays itself out within the buildings and compound of a boarding school after... Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2008 by Eugene Nyunt
Surprisingly good and unusual film
How the director and film crew managed to get about 40 tiny Chinese tots to perform so engagingly and obediently I can't imagine. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2007 by Bluebell
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