Leap (film)

Leap (Chinese: 夺冠) is a biographical sports film directed by Peter Chan and starring Gong Li and Huang Bo. The film is based on the China women's national volleyball team's stories spread over more than 40 years. The film was released in Mainland China and the United States on September 25, 2020.[2] It had been slated for release in China on January 25, 2020, the first day of the Chinese New Year, but was withdrawn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

This article is about the 2020 Chinese film. For the 2016 animated film, see Ballerina (2016 film).
Leap
Theatrical release poster
Traditional奪冠
Simplified夺冠
MandarinDuóguàn
Literallyto take first prize
Directed byPeter Chan
Written byZhang Ji
StarringGong Li
Huang Bo
Release date
  • September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Box office$25,818,882[1]

The film's Chinese title was originally named "China Women's Volleyball Team" but due to regulatory issues, was renamed as Duoguan ("to take the crown") one day before pre-release sales started. Leap is the Chinese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[4]

Cast

The cast consists of ten out of the 12 Olympic Gold medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympics squad appearing as themselves. Many other professional volleyball players acted in the movie. As the setter Wei Qiuyue was pregnant at the time of filming, current China Women's Volleyball team setter Yao Di was cast to act as Wei. Chen Zhan, a member of the 2014 World Championship squad, was cast to act as Sun Jinfang. Former Stanford volleyball player Bai Lang, who is Lang Ping's daughter, was cast to play young Lang Ping. Members of the Brazilian volleyball team also acted in the Rio Olympic games scene.

Production

Hong Kong American director Peter Chan was signed to direct the film.[6] Gong Li plays the female lead, Lang Ping, the current head coach of the China women's national volleyball team.[7]

Release

Leap was scheduled for release on January 25, 2020,[8] in China, but was withdrawn due to COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The film debuted in China on September 25, 2020, a few days before the National Day of the People's Republic of China. That weekend, theaters were allowed to sell up to 75% of available tickets, compared to 50%, due to a loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. It made its United States debut on the same day across 80 theaters in select cities.[2][3]

Reception

On its first day at the Chinese box office, the film earned $8.2 million. It went on to earn 700 million yuan (approximately $104 million) through the Golden Week holiday.[2][10]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2020 Golden Rooster Awards Best Picture Leap Won [11]
Best Director Peter Ho-Sun Chan Nominated
Best Writing Ji Zhang Won
Best Supporting Actor Gang Wu Nominated
Best Cinematographer Xiaoshi Zhao Won
Best Art Director Li Sun Nominated
Best Editor Yibo Zhang Nominated
Best Sound Zheng 'Joe' Huang Nominated

See also

References
  1. "Leap". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. Davis, Rebecca (2020-09-26). "Gong Li Drama 'Leap' Opens to $8.2 Million in China". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  3. Davis, Rebecca (2020-09-15). "China's Cinemas to Soon Operate at 75% Capacity, as Pandemic Restrictions Ease". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  4. Davis, Rebecca (3 December 2020). "China Selects Peter Chan's Volleyball Drama 'Leap' as its Oscar Contender". Variety. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. Beijing News, Reporter (28 September 2020). "Every smash and block in "Leap" is a real game" 《夺冠》每次扣杀、拦网，都是玩真格的_文娱新闻_新京报电子报. The Beijing News (in Chinese). p. A18. Retrieved 30 December 2020. In the movie, Li Xian played a role as IT technician, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses and wearing a tunic suit. He told the coach that the future of sports depends not on people, but on computers. The United States has developed such computers.
  6. Fang Jialiang (房家梁) (18 November 2019). 前国手饰演电影《中国女排》队长 变身“最佳二传”. Chinanews (in Chinese). Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  7. 《中国女排》电影郎平将由巩俐出演 关晓彤或将饰演惠若琪. qq.com (in Chinese). 12 May 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  8. "'Leap' set for January release". china.org.cn. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  9. "春节档7部电影全部撤档：以疫情为重，以生命为重". ifeng.com. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  10. Yau, Elaine (2020-10-15). "Is Jackie Chan finished? Questions abound after his latest dud". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  11. Haizi, Xu (28 November 2020). "The 33rd Chinese Film Golden Rooster Awards Announced "Leap" as the Biggest Winner" 第33届中国电影金鸡奖揭晓 《夺冠》成最大赢家. Xinhua News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
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