Stories about underprivileged pupils struggling to get an education is as much a staple in mainland Chinese children’s films as chow mien on a Chinatown takeout menu. Walking to school is a dream for these kids whose mode of transport makes bungee jumping as sedate as a merry-go-round.

The protagonists are siblings belonging to the Lisu tribe, which dwells in the heart of Yunnan’s Gongshan Mountain. To attend the village school, elder sister Naxiang (Ana Muli) must dangle from a hook attached to a pulley cable and slide across the Nujiang Gorge.

Wawa (Ding Jiali) is deemed too young and forbidden to join her. Yet so desperate is his desire for knowledge he secretly does it anyway so he can eavesdrop on Naxiang’s lessons. His antics provide some amusing episodes at first, but they have serious consequences.

Director: Peng Jia Huang, Peng Chen
Cast: Ding Jiali, Ana Muli, Cao Xiwen, Chen Yifei
Genre: Drama
Running time: 90 mins
Year: 2008
Country: China
Language:  Mandarin with English subtitles
Ratings: TBA

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