INDEPENDENT LENS | Please Vote For Me | PBS

In an elementary school in the city of Wuhan in central China, three eight-year-old students campaign for the coveted position of class monitor. This is the first election for a class leader to be held in China. The three candidates hold debates, campaign tirelessly and show their intellectual and artistic skills, until one is voted the winner.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME premieres Tuesday, October 23 on Independent Lens, a weekly series airing on PBS. Hosted by Terrence Howard, the acclaimed series showcases powerful and innovative independent films. Presented by ITVS, Independent Lens is broadcast on PBS stations nationwide.

Visit the Web site for more:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/pleasevoteforme/

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[XamsNyc]

The film reflects typical American democracy if you pay enough attention to the presidental election of the States.

[CRAPPYNEIGHBOR]

Dang, I wanted Cheng Cheng to win. In the end the kids showed their true vulnerability, sad as it is seeing eight year olds give it their all (Cheng Cheng at least) and come up short. After putting up the strong fronts necessary to win support, when it's all over the poor kids just broke down in tears. It was really funny seeing that third crier who wasn't even running. Poor kids.. this kind of stress and failure might not be good at that age...

[99natives]

I believe the film is to display the most primitive state of democracy. It's not to pick fun at either countries. It's just merely showing elections in there most primitive forms. These children do no have money to bribe others. In the beginning they wish to win fairly, when they near the end and are faced with the growing pressure, they crack. They wish so much to be the class monitor that they revert to corruption and bribery.

[MANAUIAkioku]

I dont understand what this documentary is saying. it seems like they are trying to reflect on the way the chinese government acts yet this is exactly what happens in the united states. the pledge of allegiance, and its not like we really get to pick our candidates.

this honestly to me comes off as a bit racist. "look at what these crazy asian communists are dong."

where as if something like this was done in the u.s. they would single out the school instead of generalizing the entire country.

[ptu1969]

This documentary is an excellent reminder for us to keep vigil lest our government degenerates from a constitutional republic into a democracy.

[xxlesslikeitsmathxx]

This was an *excellent* documentary. I'm so glad I found the name of it, because I couldn't remember it since I saw it last year. Excellent stuff.

[shiggityx2]

I saw this documentary and it made me so sad, the kids basically learn that democracy is cutthroat and have their hopes squashed.

[withdream]

what the...

I grew up in China and at least when I was a student and as long as I know, class monitors are always elected by students. And that was like 10-20 yrs ago. Not like the document stated appointed by the teacher.

[ieodksnw787]

just watched it streaming off of Netflix. Very good doco, an insight into the Chinese school system. Doesn't really shed too much light on the atmosphere of Chinese politics but it's entertaining nonetheless.

[9diov]

Correct, I don't know how it is in China, but in Vietnam, from secondary school onward, most class positions are voted fair and square (almost no influence from teachers/adults). I know that cuz I was in voting committee (collecting and counting votes) twice during secondary school.

[9diov]

In the end, democracy is just popularity contest. Not the best one but most popular one wins. But don't ask me about better model. I don't know ;)

[pigsysteve]

i saw only liek 10 minutes of this but

kids in china are so much more intelligent

well spoken well behaved then western kids

kids were saying big words and have so much respect