Please Vote For Me - Post Reaction

Overall, I really enjoyed watching the Chinese documentary Please Vote For Me for the last couple of days in my Global Film Studies course. Although I somewhat knew what to expect from this movie before I even saw it, I was surprised by a lot of unexpected occurrences too.

After watching Please Vote For Me, I was surprised to notice how many similarities there are between an American 3rd grade class and that of a Chinese elementary school. Apart from the mandatory chanting-in-formation sessions the kids participated in (I had absolutely no idea what was going on in these scenes), the Chinese educational system is structured much like what I'm used to here in the United States.

Because video cameras are actually taken into the homes of Luo Lei, Xu Xaiofei, and Cheng Cheng, we are also delightfully exposed to what their personal/home lives are like. This gives us the opportunity to view and understand the daily life of a middle-class Chinese family living in an urban setting. Because China implements the "one child per family" law, it is easy to tell that parents are devoted and invested in their child's academic success. Although the parents are sometimes strict, they reassure their child when he/she goes through a tough time.

The week-long "experiment" that was conducted brought about a lot of emotion and drama from the candidates for class president. The election campaign included alliances, betrayals, lies, backstabbing, and practically anything else you can think of (or so it seemed). In this way, the mock democracy trial was surprisingly authentic and realistic.

This foreign film brings to the surface of conversation a very interesting and debated question: Will China convert to a Democratic government in the near future? The nation is currently the only remaining global power that still operates as a communist state. Many Westerners have identified the People's Republic of China as being inhumane and neglecting towards the issue of human rights. Please Vote For Me reassures the possibility of establishing democracy in China.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary, and I was able to make plenty of cultural bridges between China and myself. I look forward to seeing new films and making new connections. Remember to follow me if you haven't already!