Film Craft > Production

CHANGE FOR GOOD

TENCENT, Shenzhen / TENCENT / 2020

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Film

Overview

Credits

Overview

Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

With the brand purpose of “Doing good deeds together”, the film tells a story about left-behind children.

Two little boys want to buy a second-hand phone to call their mom, who works in a distant city. They help the villagers with chores for ¥1 each time.

But they have to spend their savings on another urgent item when they almost reached the goal.

The owner of store knows their situation, and changes ¥100 to ¥1.00 by adding a decimal point on the price tag.

He gives up his own profit, just to help the boys to realize their dream.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Left-behind children group is a common phenomenon in China's third-tier and fourth-tier cities.

In the past, lots of public service works mainly showed their miserable and difficult living situation.

However, we told a story of two children trying to save money for their wishes in a warm and innocence way.

Provide the full film script in English.

A small hand drops a coin into an empty glass jar. The shop owner stands opposite to two small boys, fanning himself. He seems to be typical profit chaser.

It is like an appointment made between him and boys. Then, boys left the shop with a big smile, walking away.

The boys herd ducks across the river to a farmer’s home, return the herding rod and get one yuan. They put the coin in the glass jar, the bottom of the jar is gradually filled with coins.

The boys pick tea leaves in tea garden and hand baskets full of tea to a farmer for one yuan. Another coin is put in the jar. They stare at a second-hand mobile phone priced ¥100 over the counter, and then smile to each other.

In the evening, when younger brother finished his homework, elder brother gives him a thumb up. In the day time, they get one more coin by carrying the firewood.

On the way to carry water, the naughty younger boy broke the carrying pole, and water split on the ground. With empty and broken buckets, they can’t gain any payment, and have to leave disappointedly.

At dusk, the elder brother gives the younger a haircut. When night falls in the quiet village, boys sleep sound in bed.

Next day, the younger boy’s shoes drift with the flow while playing in the river.

The elder boy takes his barefoot brother to the store and his eyes swing between his dream mobile phone and a pair of new sport shoes. He emptied the coins in the jar, the shopkeeper returnes a coin as if he knows the number of coins clearly.

The elder brother takes the shoes for the younger brother. The younger brother keeps shaking his head and trying to refuse. That’s when the shop owner adds a decimal point on the second-hand phone’s price tag, changing ¥100 to ¥1.00 yuan. He coughs softly to call back the boys, glancing at the one-yuan-phone and imply boys to buy it. Boys thank him and get the phone.

In the sun setting, boys make a video call with the phone. As soon as the phone is answered, the brothers yell “mom” loudly and joyfully.

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