Companionship, solidarity, and perseverance are a trademark for Zhang Yimou's film showing concern for the children in his country. A story without political or territorial frontiers, for the universal theme that earned him the Golden Lion at the Venice Festival '99. Teacher Gao will have to be away from school for a few days to assist his ailing mother. With no substitute teacher, the village mayor chooses Wei, a girl of thirteen, to take over the job. Gao warns Wei that no child is to leave the school in his absence. Wei will have to learn to deal with the children and with this new imposition. Zhang Huike, a boy of ten, is intelligent but extremely lacking in discipline. He is forever challenging Wei's authority and putting her patience to test when she tries to call the class to order.

     One morning, Zhang fails to show up at school, and Wei discovers that he has gone to the city in search of work to aid his family now in debt. With the words of teacher Gao in her mind, and only the vaguest notion of where the boy might be, Wei sets out for the city determined to find him and bring him home again.