Ma Yixiang

A rebellious student sparks a transformative journey for a traditional Chinese teacher. Confronted by Xiaohua, a defiant pupil in his writing class, Teacher Ma's conventional methods are challenged. On the verge of conflict, they discover unexpected common ground, catalyzing a profound change in their lives and the constrictive educational system. As the academic year draws to a close, a blossoming of creativity and understanding unfolds, heralding the rebirth of a teacher.

A 17th-century folk tale about four thieves trying to survive in a corrupt world during the Song Dynasty (10th-13th century) is the unusual source material for this blinding debut. The timeless sources that director Ma Lanhua mines also comprise French comedy, Chinese opera and contemporary (performance) art. Ma also utilises cinema's history, particularly the early, silent era with title cards, colours reminiscent of hand-coloured films and special effects from the arsenal of film pioneer Georges Meliès.