I Am What I Am is a 104-minute cartoon. Many people in China have watched it. The film tells us a left-behind teenager(留守儿童) who takes up a new job, lion dancing. Colorful and loud, the lions are an ancient Chinese tradition to scare away bad spirits, and bless a business or home. The boy tries his best to make his dream come true though he faces lots of difficulties. We asked some people how they liked this movie. Here are some of their opinions.
The director Sun Haipeng made this successful movie. It drew a picture of common people's great work. I'm proud of all the characters because they go all out to achieve their own dreams. The movie also helps people all over the world to know China and Chinese culture better. The stories in the movie touched my heart deeply. From then on, I decided to work harder than before.
——Huang Mei
I like this movie a lot. It is actually very difficult to even carry the head of the lion becauseit's very heavy. And being the lower part of the lion is tiring because you have to bend your back and carry also the person in front at some parts of the dance. Respect to those who ever did lion dance.
——He Wei
I'm not Chinese, but I love the Chinese New Year celebration. I was lucky to grow up in a part of town with so many Chinese. My mom took me to see the lion dances each year. The smokey firecrackers(鞭炮), the colorful reds and golds as far as I could see, the smell of all the shops making their delicious food, the crowds of people full of happiness, and the sound of the drums which you could feel through your body. It's the type of celebration that wakes up the spirit completely.
——Jake
