This teenage comedy, based the star Niu Niu's experience as a 16-year-old in a UK boarding school, is very much a product of cross-cultural relations. Shot entirely in UK, with a British cast (apart from co-stars Edison Chan and Niu Niu in her acting debut) and mixed production crew, the film intimately portrays the clash between Anglo-Saxon and Chinese cultures. Though many of the laughs come from obvious stereotypes, there is still an authenticity to the exchange that is refreshing.

 

In a nod to Niu Niu's original novel "Sheep with Wings", the film opens with short cartoon sequence of a lamb leaving the flock and flying into the clouds. We wake up with a Chinese girl Jen (Niu Niu) in Britain. Jen speaks halting English and struggles with customs, before being picked up by DJ (Edison Chan), a Hong Kong student who's already accepted as just one of the British schoolboys. After settling into her room, Jen must learn to find her way through an international mix of students, demanding teachers, and mysterious school rules and traditions.

 

Granted, the English lines aren't always well written and it's nearly impossible to find actors that are believable in a foreign language. But considering it's a story targeting younger Chinese audiences, the humor is still spread around enough for create wholesome fun that can cross over and entertain anyone.

 

Director: Agan

Cast: Edison Chen, Jennifer Li, Cary Woodworth, Naomi Gibson

2004, Mandarin and English