Sparrow Village (2003)

In a rural village of southwestern China a bevy of young girls yearn for an education Their parents are poor and illiterate It is difficult for them to scrape together the money to send their daughters to school in another village The money for tuition books and room and board away from home is often more than parents can spareWe follow several as they make the weekly threehour trek to the local school Among the teachers there is only one female who is an inspiration to them all She encourages them in their studies and challenges them to progress But we also witness the pain of one family who simply cannot pay for their daughters schooling She must drop out and put off her dreams for a while The son who is less talented is favored for schoolingBeautifully photographed in the lush mountain greenery these fresh faced girls hold onto their hopes of becoming teachers and doctors against great odds