This show was shown in Singapore last month. I got to watch it in Cantonese in downtown Causeway Bay.
(Source : http://www.shaw.sg/sw_promodetails.aspxpromoCode=29%20179%2034%2093%208%200%2043%20140%20172%20204%20158%2094%20226%20189%20228%2033)
A ticket costs HK $90 roughly S$ 16
Watch the trailer below (in Cantonese)
If you have not watched it, I encourage you to buy the DVD when it is out . It is a very good movie.
Based on a real story , a real person called Lillian Lui.
Read more here and here.
There are many scenes in the movie that hold many important lessons for us as Educators.
Background
Hung (Miriam Yeung) is a Principal of an elite primary school. After a hectic stint at the school which includes dealing with wealthy and demanding parents, she decides to call it quit. Her husband, Tung , who works in the Museum also resigns at the same time. They plan to take a break from work and travel the world together.
However, their plan for a holidays comes to an abrupt stop when she learns that a kindergarten in Yuen Long faces an imminent closure . There are only 5 pupils in the school. All their families come from poor background. Driven by compassion, she decides to apply to be the Principal of the kindergarten, taking on the roles of headmistress, janitor and general body of a village school on a salary of just HK$4,500 a month (S$ 700).
Her mission - to give the 5 pupils a quality education so that they can progress to good primary schools.
I will attempt to highlight some moving scenes from the movie. Even though it is based on a true story, I am not too sure whether the movie over exaggerate certain scenes to make Hung look like a "super Principal". However, real or not, it does shows what a caring Educator is like.
Working with parents & winning their trust and their partnerships
Hung faces an uphill task as a new Principal. The first challenge is to win over the trust of the parents. Many of them are skeptical as they do not know whether this new Principal will forsake them half way through as many have done so.The parents in generally are not even sure whether the school will remain in operation the following year. One parent decides to pull her 2 children out from school because she is not able to afford the transport fares to school daily. Hung offers to drive the 2 children to school and send them back every day. She will do everything to keep the students in school.
There is another family in dire condition. The girl does not dare to go to school as she is afraid that her father would kill her mother if she is not around. The father is a violent man, an amputee who has lost his leg due to an industrial accident. To add to his woes, the family is constantly harassed by a wicked land agent who would force them to evict from their home. Hung visits the family, get to know the situation and get the authorities to step in to prevent further harassment of the family.
Hung also rallies the parents together to organise the school's open day. By then, all the parents love her , touched by her sincerity and her love for their children.
Giving the children a dream & overcoming their limitations
Throughout the show, Hung is always encouraging the students, telling them to dream big and realise their potential. To help children overcome their shyness and their low self esteem, she conducts drama classes and provide opportunities for them to showcase their singing and performing talents. At the end of the movie, the children performs a moving performance at the school's open house.
Throughout the movie, the Principal constantly exhibits love and care for the children.
Having a vision to keep the school open
The first school open house is a flop. Not even a single parent attends the event. But Hing perseveres, she keeps on encouraging the students and the parents. Together as a school community, they print tracts and give them out in the streets. At the end of the movie, their efforts reap results. The school is able to recruit sufficient students for the following year to avoid a school closure.
Throughout the show, Hung is always encouraging the students, telling them to dream big and realise their potential. To help children overcome their shyness and their low self esteem, she conducts drama classes and provide opportunities for them to showcase their singing and performing talents. At the end of the movie, the children performs a moving performance at the school's open house.
Throughout the movie, the Principal constantly exhibits love and care for the children.
Having a vision to keep the school open
The first school open house is a flop. Not even a single parent attends the event. But Hing perseveres, she keeps on encouraging the students and the parents. Together as a school community, they print tracts and give them out in the streets. At the end of the movie, their efforts reap results. The school is able to recruit sufficient students for the following year to avoid a school closure.
Not swayed by monetary gains
There is a scene where Hung is invited by the boss of a large tuition centre for a meeting. Originally the boss of this centre has promised to donate some money to the kindergarten. However, the boss has a sinister motive behind. He wants to offer Hung a job as the spokeperson of his tuition centre (Hung, by then is well-known throughout Hong Kong as the Principal who champions the cause for the poor children) . He even promises Hung that she will receive a high salary for her role.
Hung walks out of the meeting . She cannot betray her own conscience ,leave the children for a better salary.
For a complete review of the movie. Click here.
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