Once Upon a Time in Jinan: Some Ordinary People

Director Statement

What is history?

Is the experience of ordinary people a part of history?

In the torrent of time, ordinary people often find themselves involved in significant historical events due to their career choices. One night, their profession may be considered honorable, but the next morning, it could become illegal. Under the rigid policies, the efforts of ordinary people sometimes yield positive results, while at other times, they backfire. In July 2021, after China's education authorities introduced the "double reduction" plan, millions of practitioners in the education and training industry were thrown into professional confusion. Hundreds of thousands of training institutions faced the risk of closure. As a creator, I believe such events should be highlighted. Nearly all those entangled in this event are ordinary people. Clearly, at the national level, this is a significant event in the history of China's education. For the individuals involved, it represents a greater identity crisis in their lives.

I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to become involved in this historical event and engage in profound, candid, and effective dialogues with Lu Yonghua, the founder of "Dino Education" from Shandong, China, and her team, as they faced this unprecedented crisis. With the assistance of the PNSO team, we managed to navigate through the most challenging times by undertaking a business transformation. I am thrilled to record these processes and present them in a film to a broader audience.

The lives of ordinary people are also an indispensable part of history. I firmly believe this.