Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Small, touching drama about a young girl with dyslexia.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Confetti
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
CONFETTI begins in a small town in China, where young Meimei (Harmonie He) is having trouble in school. She doesn't seem to be able to read or write, but her American teacher, Thomas (George C. Tronsrue), recognizes that she's quite clever. He intuits that Meimei has dyslexia and needs to attend a special school that can teach her in the way she needs. Such schools are rare in China, so Meimei's mother, Lan Chen (Zhu Zhu), makes the hard decision to look for schools in the United States. Thomas calls in a favor with writer Helen McClellan (Amy Irving) so that Lan Chen and Meimei will have a place to stay in New York. But their struggle is just beginning, as Lan Chen doesn't speak any English, and special schools require expensive tests. And then there are wait lists. But, harboring a painful secret from her own childhood, Lan Chen is determined not to give up on her daughter.
Is It Any Good?
This low-key, unfussy, touching drama from Chinese American filmmaker Ann Hu is familiar and a bit soapy, but it adeptly draws on viewers' empathy for its characters. Confetti may seem like a quiet, "minor" movie—though the filmmakers do add a race-against-time element, which helps amp up the drama—but it's about an important subject. Meimei is the perfect focus for this story, a plucky kid who hasn't yet let the world get her down. When her teacher asks her to write a word on the chalkboard, she draws a flower instead. Her mother (nicely played by Zhu Zhu) operates between two poles—her own dark secret, which is a huge invisible weight on her shoulders, and her love for Meimei and the willingness it brings to fight for her, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable. A wonderful Irving rounds out the trio of women as Helen, an intellectual writer who's grumpy about her privacy. The dynamic between them all conjures up plenty of goodwill and drama. Confetti even makes the bureaucracy about getting into school feel like part of the fabric of the movie; it's emotional and suspenseful. This drama will be a delight for viewers who love movies about persevering in the face of struggle, but it's also a little treasure for anyone with an open heart.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Confetti portrays dyslexia. Does it seem realistic? How does Meimei compare to other neurodivergent characters you've seen?
How do the characters demonstrate compassion? Empathy? What's the difference?
How is bullying depicted? Can bullying be verbal only? How are the kids who bully Meimei dealt with?
How does Lan Chen demonstrate courage?
How is smoking depicted? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 20, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : August 20, 2021
- Cast : Zhu Zhu , Amy Irving , Harmonie He
- Director : Ann Hu
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Chinese Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Dada Films
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 30, 2025
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