The film presents us an alarming view of “democracy”. Perhaps Machiavelli would be a fan of Luo Lei, in that he is able to reach a middle ground between being feared and being loved. Though it is clear that he has beat up his classmates, it seems that he is able to appease them through the gifts his father suggests, such as those from the autumn festival or the trip to the monorail. Despite my readiness to dislike the incumbent, I can see how he holds a certain degree of virtue, at least in the way Machiavelli describes it. In the beginning of the film, he says that he wants people to vote for who they want. This film shows democracy in a loose sense. The classroom community is too small to mirror the way the masses consider political candidates. However, one thing is abundantly clear through Cheng Cheng and Luo Lei’s actions: the playing field is not fair. Xiaofei’s efforts are undercut from the beginning of the talent show, when her classmates scream insults at her. The unfairness of the election process is relevant in examining many democracies around the world. It seems that the main challenge to democracy presented in the film is that the children don’t really know what a democracy is, as we are shown at the outset of the film. Once they are given the power to choose for themselves, it makes sense that they would revert back to the incumbent, back to what has always been. For these reasons, they accept him despite his authoritarian form of ruling the classroom.
I think you make interesting points about the ways that the democratic process can be unfair – in this case, it is skewed towards Luo Lei because of the resources of his father. This most likely falls under the category of a somewhat illiberal democracy. However, it makes the viewer consider whether this is still better than one without elections/totalitarian. Perhaps these elements will lead to some progressive action despite their obstacles to complete liberalism.
I appreciate your observation that they didn’t even know what democracy was yet were expected to play the game. This goes to show that undemocratic means to a democratic ends often times leads to unfairness, and it was a powerful incentive on the film makers part to begin it with children asking what a vote was.
I like your argument that the underlying problem with this democratic process is that the voters do not know what democracy is. I think this is a fair point and often seen in emerging democracies as they transition from authoritarianism to a truly democratic process.