IDFA 2008
I Wanna Be Boss
Marije Meerman
Netherlands, Belgium, United States
2008
58 min
World Premiere
I Wanna be Boss… reports on how the next generation of Chinese leaders is being molded. In this documentary we follow five very smart Chinese students through their final high-pressure year at an elite high school in Chongqing, a megalopolis in central China. They are competing, together with 10,5 million students all over the country, for a limited amount of spots at Beijing's top two universities. Studying from 7.10 AM till 10.30 PM, 6 days a week, the students’ lives are regimented almost every minute of the day as they prepare for the end-of-year exam that can determine their fate. For many students from poor or rural backgrounds, a strong performance on the test is the only way to climb the social ladder and excel without connections.
Credits
Director
Production
Bruno Wille Felix for Submarine,
Femke Wolting for Submarine,
Femke Wolting
Bruno Wille Felix for Submarine,
Femke Wolting for Submarine,
Femke Wolting
Co-production
VPRO,
Thirteen/WNET,
Lichtpunt
VPRO,
Thirteen/WNET,
Lichtpunt
Cinematography
Music
Coparck
Coparck
Screenplay
Involved TV Channel
VPRO,
Thirteen/WNET,
Lichtpunt
VPRO,
Thirteen/WNET,
Lichtpunt
World Sales
NPO Sales
NPO Sales
Screening copy
Submarine
Submarine