Bamboo (92)

Bamboo is a documentary focusing on an educational experiment in China. At a private high school in Chengdu, Sichuan—briefly renamed "Bamboo School"—homeroom teacher Liu Feng and parent Mu Ren attempt to build a learning system centered on the holistic development of body, mind, and brain. Seeking an alternative to the "involution" (hyper-competitive rat race) of the education system, they categorize students into three tracks: AI-driven independent learning, traditional instruction, and self-motivation development. Simultaneously, they launch initiatives such as "student companies" and campus self-governance, aiming to explore a growth path that balances happiness with excellence.

However, as school leadership changes, educational philosophies clash, and capital interests intervene, the experiment gradually drifts from its original vision. The discourse of innovative education is silenced; administrative infighting, buck-passing, and pressure for results encroach upon the classroom; and the power struggles of the adult world silently impact the students—even as the students themselves remain on the sidelines. Faced with ever-shifting rules, they transition from anticipation and confusion to apathy, ultimately using humor, jokes, and mutual companionship to defuse the absurdity of their reality.

Centered on a diverse group of young students, the film creates a striking contrast between lighthearted, witty campus life and the heavy, complex world of adults. On the surface, it depicts a high school experience filled with laughter; beneath that, it reflects a profound inquiry into educational ideals, institutional realities, and human nature.