Please Vote For Me

An experiment in democracy is taking place in a third grade classroom in China. For the first time, students will be able to elect their own class monitor. Should China ever adopt democracy, this surprising, insightful documentary seeks to determine how it would be received. Traditionally appointed by the teacher, the class monitor holds a powerful position. The teacher has chosen three candidates: current class monitor Luo Lei (a boy); Cheng Cheng (a boy); and Xu Xiaofei (a girl). The candidates must perform in three events: a talent show, a debate, and speech delivery. The campaign takes its toll on the tyro politicians. Viewers are left to decide if the experiment in democracy has been “successful” and what it might mean for democracy in China. Please Vote for Me challenges those committed to China’s democratization to consider the feasibility of, and processes involved in, its implementation. This film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2008 Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival, and the Sterling Feature Award at the 2007 Silverdocs Film Festival.