Where to Watch
Checking availability in your country…
Cast
Movie Info & Details
Release Year2002
Runtime1h 43m
LanguageMandarin
CertificationNR
Genres—
Votes2
DirectorYang Yazhou
WritersYang Yazhou
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.5 out of 10
Cast8 credited
Also Known AsFor the Children
About For the Children
In response to the death of her husband and young son, peasant Zhang Meili founds a school in the dry desert landscape of northwest China. When cultured and chipper Xia Yu arrives from Beijing to help her out, the two women bond and learn from each other's character how to best serve the children. Various subplots include the arrival of Xia's husband, who tries in vain to persuade her to return to the city, Xia's quick abortion, and the comically clandestine relationship between Zhang and a local projectionist.
Directed by Yang Yazhou, For the Children leans on a strong ensemble — Ni Ping, Yuan Quan, Sun Haiying — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2002.
Read More on the Blog
You Might Also Like
More like For the Children, picked from what people are watching
7.3The Story of Qiu Ju
1992 7.3
When her husband is kicked in the groin by the village head, Qiu Ju, a peasant woman, despite her pregnancy, travels to a nearby town, and later a big city to deal with its bureaucrats and find justice.
The Story of Qiu Ju
1992
7.8Under the Hawthorn Tree
2010 7.8
The daughter of a right-winger, schoolgirl Jing Qiu is sent to the countryside for reeducation, and tasked to help write a textbook. There she meets Lao San, a young soldier with a bright future ahead. Despite the class divide and parental disapproval, romance blooms against turbulent times.
Under the Hawthorn Tree
2010
7.2Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl
1998 7.2
Young teen girl Xiu Xiu is sent away to a remote corner of the Sichuan steppes for manual labor in 1975 (sending young people to there was a part of Cultural Revolution in China). A year later, she agrees to go to even more remote spot with a Tibetan saddle tramp Lao Jin to learn horse herding.
Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl
1998
6.0Paradise
1982 6.0
After their caravan is attacked and their respective families butchered by Arab marauders, teenagers David and Sarah flee across the desert. But the desert is filled with danger from the elements, animals and the unwholesome appetite of the Jackal, a sheik who wants Sarah for himself. However, the desert also holds temptation and love. David and Sarah hide out in an oasis and build a life for themselves, discovering each other in new ways.
Paradise
1982
6.7Level 16
2018 6.7
The teenage girls of Vestalis Academy are meticulously trained in the art of being “clean girls,” practicing the virtues of perfect femininity. But what exactly are they being trained for? Vivien intends to find out.
Level 16
2018
7.3Train Dreams
2025 7.3
A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.
Train Dreams
2025
User Reviews
7.5
Community rating
Loading reviews…
From the Blog
All Posts
News
Michael OTT Release Date: The Michael Jackson Biopic Streams August 29
The Michael Jackson biopic arrives on JioHotstar on August 29, 2026. Here is where to watch it, what you need, and why it is one of the year’s biggest music films.
News
Jana Nayagan OTT Release Date: When Vijay’s Film Streams on ZEE5
Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is headed to ZEE5 for its digital premiere. Here is the latest on its OTT release date and where to watch, updated as news is confirmed.
Guides
What Should I Watch Tonight? How to Decide in 5 Minutes
The average person spends more time scrolling than watching. Here's a 5-minute method to pick tonight's movie or show by mood, not by endless browsing.