Monday, 16 August 2021

Leap

Movie: Leap
Chinese Title: 夺冠 / Duo Guan

Release Date: September 25, 2020

Genre: Drama, Sports
Language: Mandarin
Director: Peter Chan Ho - San
Screenwriter: Zhang Ji
Chief Producer: Zhang Yibai, Xu Yuezhen
Producer: Gong Li
Origin: China
Source: A biographical film about China's women's volleyball team

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Synopsis and Plot Summary

From China's first world championship in women's volleyball in 1981 to the crucial match between China and Brazil during the Rio Olympics in 2016, Leap tells the legendary story of several generations of women's volleyball players amidst 40 years of reform.

During the volleyball match between China and the United States at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Lang Ping (Gong Li) in her wire-rimmed glasses sat on the coaching bench of the US team with a calm and piercing look; Chinese volleyball coach Chen Zhonghe (Huang Bo) stood attentively on the sidelines and smiled. In 2013, Lang Ping becomes the coach for China women's national volleyball team and leads them to a new chapter in history.

Fun Facts

It was part of the Spring Festival movie lineup for January 25, 2020 that was cancelled due to the worsening coronavirus epidemic in China.
A year before filming started, the crew looked for actors to train in volleyball but the results were not ideal. Hence, they looked for volleyball players instead.
Gong Li felt that she couldn't live up to the role so she rejected director Peter Chan's invitation three times. At the end, she had the mindset of "even though I know I will lose, I will give it my all and never give up" when she finally accepted the role.
The Chinese title translates to, "Taking first place."
Lydia Bai who plays the young Lang Ping in the movie is actually Lang Ping's daughter.

Cast

	Gong Li as Lang Ping
	Huang Bo as Chen Zhonghe
	Wu Gang as Yuan Weimin
	Peng Yuchang as Chen Zhonghe (Young)
	Bai Lang as Lang Ping (Young)
	Chen Zhan as Sun Jinfang