| Leap | |||||||||||
| Native Name: |
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| Director: | Peter Chan | ||||||||||
| Producer: | Zhang Yibai Jojo Hui | ||||||||||
| Starring: | Gong Li Huang Bo Wu Gang | ||||||||||
| Music: | Shigeru Umebayashi Lincoln Lo | ||||||||||
| Cinematography: | Zhao Xiaoshi | ||||||||||
| Editing: | Zhang Yibo | ||||||||||
| Studio: | We Pictures China Film Group Huaxia Film Distribution Alibaba Pictures | ||||||||||
| Distributor: | We Pictures | ||||||||||
| Runtime: | 135 minutes | ||||||||||
| Country: | China | ||||||||||
| Language: | Mandarin | ||||||||||
| Gross: | $129 million[1] [2] | ||||||||||
Leap is a 2020 Chinese biographical sports drama 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2020.[3] It had been slated for release in China on January 25, 2020, the first day of the Chinese New Year, but was withdrawn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
The film's Chinese title was originally named "China Women's Volleyball Team" ("Zhong Guo Nu Pai") 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, but it was not nominated.[5]
Lang Ping the player is played by her real-life daughter Lydia Bai (Chinese name: Bai Lang), a former Stanford Cardinal player. Lydia Bai herself is played by Audrey Hui (Joan Chen's daughter) in the film.
The cast consists of ten out of the twelve Olympic Gold medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympics squad appearing as themselves. As Wei Qiuyue was pregnant at the time of filming, Yao Di (who was cut before the Olympics) was cast to act as Wei. (Despite Wei's absence, her husband Yuan Lingxi, who has been an assistant coach on the team, appears in the film as himself.)
Hong Kong American director Peter Chan was signed to direct the film.[12] Gong Li plays the female lead, Lang Ping, the current head coach of the China women's national volleyball team.[13] Filming began on April 16, 2019, and wrapped up in August 2019.
The theme song "River of Life" (生命之河) is a duet by Faye Wong and Na Ying, and produced by Zhang Yadong.
The promotion song "Day and Night" (不分昼夜) is sung by Jackson Yee, and produced by Radio Mars
Leap was scheduled for release on January 25, 2020,[14] in China, but was withdrawn due to COVID-19 pandemic.[15] 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.
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.[16]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Golden Rooster Awards | Best Picture | Leap | [17] | |
| Best Director | Peter Ho-Sun Chan | ||||
| Best Writing | Ji Zhang | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Gang Wu | ||||
| Best Cinematographer | Xiaoshi Zhao | ||||
| Best Art Director | Li Sun | ||||
| Best Editor | Yibo Zhang | ||||
| Best Sound | Zheng 'Joe' Huang | ||||
| 2022 | 40th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Peter Chan | [18] | |
| Best Actress | Gong Li | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Bai Lang | ||||