'Leap' review: Three phases of the film beautifully weaved together
By: Lim Yian Lu
Length: 135 minutes
Director: Peter Chan
Cast: Gong Li, Huang Bo, Wu Gang, Peng Yuchang, Bai Lang
3.5 out of 5 stars
Leap is a biographical sports drama about the China women’s national volleyball team, with a focus on volleyball player-turned-coach Lang Ping, portrayed by Gong Li. The movie highlights three phases: in the 1980s when teenage Lang Ping, starring Lang Ping’s actual daughter Bai Lang, and her volleyball teammates train vigorously despite the lack of technology; in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics volleyball game, where the US team led by Lang Ping is pitted against the Chinese team led by Lang Ping’s former hitting partner and longtime friend, portrayed by Huang Bo; and finally in 2013 to 2016 when Lang Ping returns from the States to serve as the head coach for China women’s national volleyball team.
Despite Leap being a biographical movie, its drama element has lent a hand to keep the story engaging. Running at 135 minutes may feel long, but each segment has its own intricacies which are indispensable. In the 1980s story, we see the performance of Bai Lang, who is also a member of a volleyball team in the US, in executing the stories of her biological mother’s youth. Acting alongside her as the hitting partner is budding new actor Peng Yuchang, who is known for his lead role in the Chinese version of The Prince Of Tennis (2019).
Fast forward to recent times, we see highly acclaimed actress Gong Li with a bob cut and a pair of thin browline glasses who strikes an uncanny resemblance to Lang Ping. But the cherry on top is the Chinese volleyball players from the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medal team starring as themselves in the movie: outside hitter Zhang Changning, setter Ding Xia, then-captain and outside hitter Hui Ruoqi, middle blocker Yuan Xinyue, opposite hitter Gong Xiangyu, outside hitter Liu Xiaotong, middle blocker Yan Ni, middle blocker Xu Yunli, libero Lin Li, and current-captain and outside hitter Zhu Ting.
In addition, the opposing teams also see the guest appearances of Hitomi Nakamichi from the 2012 London Olympics Japan team; Logan Tom from the 2008 Beijing Olympics US team; and Jaqueline Carvalho, Marianne Steinbrecher and Paula Marques Pequeno from the 2008 Beijing Olympics Brazil team. With Carvalho selected among the players at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the reenactment of the decisive match is one to look out for and forward to.
Cast aside, Leap beautifully weaves the three phases together through Lang Ping’s involvements in each phase. Spanning about four decades from 1979 to 2016, the story shows the hard work, perseverance and team spirit of the China women’s national volleyball team, and how the team evolves with time and soars under the supervision of Lang Ping. Although it is not exactly a motivational story — hard work sometimes just does not pay off, especially if you do not put your heart into it — it is still intriguing to see how things unfold.
With a star-studded cast featuring Gong Li and the China women’s national volleyball team, Leap will jump you through three stories and four decades of blood, sweat and tears.
Release date: 1 October 2020
