A movie with a message. This was a great film.

I can't believe the huge gap between poor and rich. Even after having traveled through China, I had no idea how crazy it could get.

Here is a 13 yr old girl, Wei Minzhi, who has been chosen to be the substitute teacher for a school in a small village in the mountains. Of course, the children will not listen to her, especially the young prankster, Zhang Huike.

Minzhi is told by the teacher before he leaves that she is not to lose one more student. If one student leaves while she is in charge, he will not pay her as much money. The only problem is that the mayor comes one day to take away a little girl to bring her to a sport school in the city. She tries to hide her so she can't leave, but it doesn't work.

Shortly after, Zhang Huike is missing from class. Minzhi finds out that he has gone to the city to help his sick mother pay off the debt she owes after his father has died.

Now that's 2 children who have left her class, and Minzhi starts to panic. She goes to the mayor to ask him for his help, but there's nothing he can do. She decides to ask the children for help getting into the city to search for Zhang Huike, but the children have no money. One of the children tell her about the factory in town, and how they can earn money by moving bricks. They all run over to the factory and start moving bricks, the manager takes pity on them and gives her money, but it's not enough.

Minzhi hitchhikes a ride to the city and begins her search. She is there for days, searching for Zhang, who became lost on his first day. After a few failed attempts at finding him, Minzhi goes to the nearest TV station to try to get on air. She is there for a day and a half asking for the station manager when she is finally let in, and goes on a TV program beseeching Zhang Huike to return to her. When he sees her tear streaked face begging him to come back, he does.

The TV crew follow Minzhi and Zhang on the way back to their village, in the car, during their interview, the reporter asks Zhang what he will always remember about the city. He pauses, and says, very seriously, the he "will always remember having to beg for food."
Many people have donated money and school supplies after having seen the TV program Minzhi was on. It turned out to be a happy ending.

At the end of the movie, the director gives us facts, saying that millions of children drop out of school each year, and only about 15% can return, thanks to donations.