The film was a co-production between China's Beijing Century Good-Tidings Cultural Development Company LTD and Italy's Downtown Pictures.

The Dutch company, Fortissimo Films handled worldwide sales.

Deposited into a world that demands conformity (rewarded by the titular little red flowers), Qiang suffers for his bullying.

It premiered at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2006, as part of the Panorama series.

The film also premiered at other major festivals including Sundance (as part of the World Cinema competition), and Cannes where it was in-competition.