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Documentary backdrop image for Bitter Sweet Ballad (2025)
108 minGdocumentary

Synopsis

Every year, Ms. Yuan Xiaoyan selects a group of music-loving first-year students at Beijing's Dandelion School to join the choir.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

  • Meet Ms. Yuan Xiaoyan and her choir of talented students.
  • Follow the lives of migrant worker children in Beijing.
  • Find out how music shapes their youth and future.

Did You Know

  • The Dandelion School is Beijing's first middle school for migrant workers.
  • Ms. Yuan Xiaoyan has worked in the school choir for eight years.
  • Students must discuss their future choices with families as they advance to the second year.

Perfect For

Migrant worker storiesYouth and musicChinese education system
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dandelion School?

The Dandelion School is Beijing’s first middle school specifically established for the children of migrant workers.

Who selects the choir members at the Dandelion School?

Ms. Yuan Xiaoyan, who has worked in the school choir for eight years, selects a group of music-loving first-year students with solid musical foundations to join the choir.

What happens to choir members after middle school?

Choir members' music careers in middle school will eventually stop due to the pressure of high school entrance examinations and the inevitable parting.

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