Please Vote For Me was a SPECTACULAR documentary about the existence of democracy in China...in a Third grade class in an elementary school in the town of Wahun. Three children, Cheng (a pudgy little boy), Xiao (a sweet, quiet girl) and Luo (a gruff but commanding boy) are running for Classroom Monitor. Prior to this experiment, classroom monitors were selected by the staff of the school. In order to give the children an opportunity to understand what a vote is, and subsequently, what DEMOCRACY means, the staff instead selects three children to vote on.
The three immediately begin to start work on their campaigns. They are allowed 2 friends to assist them. There are preparations for singing, dancing, portraying famous Chinese politician and even debates. Soon the children learn that democracy can mean sacrifice, hurt and a lot of frustration.
The best part about this documentary is that they really did a great job of taking you right into the kids' world. You go to school with them, walk into the bathroom with them, watch them at home...interacting with their parents and watch them interacting with their friends too. It was such a great take on the electoral process - as well as offered a very strong resemblance (on a completely different level of course) to the Clinton/Obama/McCain election of 2008. Emmy and I were BOTH glued to this one.
The IMDB Link
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