The Radio of Childhood

This film (drama)Also known as童年的收音机，is aMainland ChinaProducerwomen sex，At2009Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin，Current Douban rating8.1(For reference only)。

The story takes place in a small town in southwestern Shanxi at the end of the 1960s, focusing on several young friends, including "Little Glasses," Zhuzi, and Xinger, as they create a crystal radio. In an era when toys were rare, the children of the town played their own games every day—like "top spinning," and it was already quite enviable for the girls to have a beautiful feather shuttlecock. Eleven-year-old Wang Guoqing often wore a pair of small glasses. He was the leader of the children in the courtyard; due to his love of reading, Guoqing appeared more "knowledgeable" than the other kids. He frequently talked about "profound" scientific issues and always mentioned "science" while playing with his friends, earning him the nickname "Little Science." Because he wore glasses, he was also called "Little Glasses." With "Little Glasses" around, another friend partnered with him, the endlessly curious Xinger, who kept asking questions upon seeing "Little Glasses." Thus, eight-year-old Xinger got the nickname "Little Question Mark." To be as knowledgeable as "Little Science," "Little Question Mark" cried and whined for seven or eight days until his father eventually bought him a book titled "One Hundred Thousand Whys." This led "Little Question Mark" to often pose scientific questions, puzzling the other kids, which made "Little Glasses" very curious. A "top spinning" battle broke out. Under the leadership of "Little Glasses," Xinger and Zhuzi flanked him on either side and fiercely battled the children from another yard, ultimately defeating the challengers. The victory delighted Xinger, and he finally asked Guoqing and Zhuzi to his house for sweet water, which overjoyed them. They cheered "Hooray" as they raced to Xinger's home. While Zhuzi and Xinger were sharing sweet water, Guoqing observed intently in Xinger's home. He wondered how "Little Question Mark" suddenly knew so much about science. Guoqing was determined to find the answer, and lo and behold, he discovered Xinger's copy of "One Hundred Thousand Whys." Two years ago, his own copy had fallen into the river, which had made him cry for a whole week. The curious "Little Glasses" was fascinated with this book. No wonder Xinger's little belly was puffed up with pride; he had "treasure" inside! Guoqing quickly hid the book in his clothes. He planned to copy everything he wanted to know from "One Hundred Thousand Whys" as fast as he could, then return the book to Xinger. Back at home, "Little Glasses" was engrossed, copying answers into a notebook. One question in "One Hundred Thousand Whys" caught his eye: how to assemble a crystal radio. Guoqing was extremely excited. He decided to take matters into his own hands and follow the instructions in the book. He knew that Xinger wouldn’t lend him the book again, so "Little Science" decided to keep it hidden for a few more days. Guoqing, who was passionately copying from the book, suddenly disappeared from the "top spinning" games. His friends wondered what had happened to their "spiritual leader," and every action of "Little Glasses" filled his admirers with curiosity and mystery. At this moment, "Little Glasses" Guoqing was fully focused on assembling the radio. His biggest challenge was gathering all the various parts needed to put the radio together. Clever "Little Glasses" soon figured out the situation at each of his friends' homes after some "reconnaissance." To build the radio, he needed a small iron box, and Zhuzi's can of Golden Rooster brand cooking oil became the prime choice. To this end, "Little Glasses" decided to recruit Zhuzi into his "production" team. Zhuzi was thrilled to hear about the radio assembly; if they had their own radio, they would be the "big shots" in their yard! With the radio, they could listen to stories, songs, and movies. The mere mention of the word "radio" enchanted Zhuzi, and he could vividly imagine how everyone would admire him once their radio was operational. Zhuzi was so happy he was drooling. Of course, the best way to flatter Guoqing was to bring him a clean cucumber from his waist. Determined to secure the cooking oil can, Zhuzi started to take action. He began helping his father clean the oil can every day, eager to see it used up after three years. Under "Little Science's" strategy, Zhuzi finally managed to get the oil can. With the small metal box in hand, "Little Glasses" and Zhuzi turned their attention to getting a magnet from Xiaoli, who owned a piece of magnet stone. To obtain this magnet stone, "Little Glasses" and Zhuzi tricked Xiaoping's grandmother, captured Xiaoping's little rooster, and plucked three golden feathers from its backside, dyeing its butt with dye from a street vendor. "Little Glasses" crafted a beautiful shuttlecock from the three feathers, successfully exchanging it for Xiaoli's magnet stone. They also managed to acquire copper wire and enameled wire. They had almost all the parts needed to assemble the radio. Just as "Little Science" was getting ready to follow the book's instructions, the book "One Hundred Thousand Whys" mysteriously vanished. After some investigation, "Little Glasses" finally discovered that Xinger had secretly taken the book back. This caused rifts among the childhood friends, and the children from outside the yard challenged their courtyard friends to a "top spinning" competition to regain their lost honor. To defend their yard's pride, "Little Glasses" led his friends in a top-spinning battle against the outsiders, during which "Little Glasses" fell and got hurt while trying to rescue Xinger. The friends' hearts came together once again. At this moment, Xinger understood the struggles of "Little Glasses." With the efforts of the friends, only one component, a five-cent crystal detector, remained to complete their radio, yet five cents seemed astronomically high for the children. In their quest to gather five cents, they scoured beneath the counters of small shops for loose change and sold their beloved paper wrappers one cent at a time. Finally, "Little Glasses," with just two cents short, seized the moment when the shopkeeper was distracted and grabbed the required crystal, running away... With all parts now ready, after two days of hard work by "Little Glasses," Xinger, and Zhuzi, the radio was finally assembled. It was time for a test. All their friends gathered, filled with excitement, as they watched "Little Glasses" adjust the crystal detector. Time passed minute by minute, but the small metal box remained silent. The friends waited eagerly, but hours later, the box still emitted no sound. Disappointed, "Little Glasses" Guoqing felt tearful and decided to send everyone home. However, none of the friends retrieved their belongings as they silently walked away. "Little Glasses" fell asleep next to the assembled radio, dreaming he heard the radio singing. A gust of wind blew, tilting the antenna on the roof and changing its angle... At that moment, the silent box finally produced sound, a beautiful melody awakening "Little Glasses." He thought he was dreaming; the little box was really singing. "Little Glasses" Guoqing listened in wonder, then suddenly jumped up, rushing to the rooftop, yelling, "We did it... We did it...!" The children heard "Little Glasses" Guoqing's excited shouts and scrambled out of their beds, rushing to his house. Beautiful songs emanated from the small box as the children danced along with the music... This day just happened to be International Children's Day.