The script is by no means perfect and has even a number of inexplicable plot holes. Nevertheless, that is easily made up by an Oscar-winning direction from Cao Baoping. Confident, suspenseful and economic, Cao's direction sets up the realistic production design, groundbreaking cinematography, and down-to-earth acting performances. Not a single thing gives a bad acting, including the dogs. The smooth storytelling keeps the attention of the audiences towards the very end. The angle and focus of the cameras are both cleverly and carefully chosen by the director. In a nutshell, this is probably the best coming-of-age film ever in Chinese-language.