Stealing School is a drama-thriller film directed by Li Dong and stars Celine Tsai as April Chen, a young Chinese-Canadian computer science student. April is accused of plagiarism by a vengeful teaching assistant named Ed, who may have personal reasons for targeting her.
As April fights to prove her innocence, she discovers the academic tribunal is being held in secret, which only raises more suspicion and fear. She is helped by her friend Eric, played by Jonathan Keltz, who urges her to fight back against the accusations. April's parents, who have a reputation in the academic community, are also involved in the trial, adding more weight to the stakes.
The film delves into issues of racial bias, power dynamics, and the high stakes world of academia and intellectual property. The tension builds throughout the movie, as April fights to clear her name and protect her future. The movie plays out like a legal drama, with scenes of cross-examinations, evidence gathering, and witness testimony.
Stealing School was a festival favorite, premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2019 and winning the Best Canadian Film Award at the Whistler Film Festival. It is a timely and thought-provoking film that examines the pressures and challenges faced by young people in the academic world.
