Review of Please Vote for Me (2007) by Bianca B — 07 Dec 2009

Short and quick-paced, this documentary about a democratic election for a Class Monitor in Communist China is very well-presented for a Western audience. Shots and sequences are carefully chosen. Oh yeah, and by the way, be ready to laugh, cry and question.

The different personalities and campaign methods of the three candidates will remind you of the tension and turmoil of any US election, while the softer glimpse into the children's lives and their relationships with their parents will remind you of the humanity behind politics.

And of course, there is built-in suspense as you wait to discover who the children actually end up voting for. An amazing look at how, when given the chance to vote and decide for themselves, human beings reveal themselves to be no different from each other no matter what culture or history.