''Leap'' () is a 2020

biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or ...

sports film A sports film is a film genre in which any particular sport plays a prominent role in the film's plot or acts as its central theme. It is a production in which a sport, sporting event, athlete (and their sport), or follower of sport (and the spor ...

directed by

Peter Chan Peter Ho-sun Chan (born 28 November 1962) is a film director and producer. Early life Chan was born in British Hong Kong to parents China. He and his family moved to Thailand when he was 12, where he grew up amongst the international Chines ...

and starring

Gong Li Gong Li (Chinese: 巩俐; born 31 December 1965) is a Chinese actress. She starred in three of the four Chinese-language films that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Gong was born in Shenyang, Liaoni ...

and

Huang Bo Huang Bo (; born August 26, 1974) is a Chinese actor, film director, singer and the current vice-chairman of China Film Association. He is the winner of multiple Chinese film awards, and ranked 34th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, ...

. The film is based on the

China women's national volleyball team The China women's national volleyball team () represents the People's Republic of China in international volleyball competitions and friendly matches governed by Chinese Volleyball Association. They are one of the leading and most successful squ ...

's stories spread over more than 40 years. The film was released in Mainland China and the United States on September 25, 2020. It had been slated for release in China on January 25, 2020, the first day of the

Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a New Year, new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar, lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar. In Sinophone, Chinese and other East Asian cultures, the festival is commonly r ...

, but was withdrawn due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

. 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 The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, at Union Station in Los Angeles. The ceremony was held on April 25, 2021 ...

, but it was not nominated.

Cast

as Coach

Lang Ping "Jenny" Lang Ping (; born 10 December 1960) is a Chinese former volleyball player and the current head coach of China's women's national volleyball team. She is the former head coach of the United States women's national volleyball team. As a p ...

* Lydia Bai as Young

Chen ZhongHe Chen Zhonghe (, born 2 October 1957 in Zhangzhou) is a Chinese former volleyball coach. He was the head coach of the Chinese women's national volleyball team from 2001 to 2009 and the man behind the gold medals of the 2003 FIVB Volleyball Women's ...

Peng YuChang Peng Yuchang (, born October 25, 1994) is a Chinese actor and singer, who gained recognition after appearing in ''Our Shining Days'' and Hu Bo's award-winning film '' An Elephant Sitting Still.'' He was chosen by CCTV-6's China Movie Report as ...

as Young Chen ZhongHe *

Wu Gang Wu Gang (), formerly romanized as Wu Kang and also known as Wu Zhi in some sources,Eberhard, Wolfram. ''Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought''pp. 76 ff Routledge & Kegan Paul (London), 2013. Accessed 12 Novem ...

Yuan Weimin Yuan Weimin (; born July 8, 1939 in Suzhou, Jiangsu) is a Chinese sports administrator and civil servant. He was the Executive President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Player career Yuan was selected to repr ...

Lang Ping the player is played by her real-life daughter Lydia Bai (Chinese name: Bai Lang), a former

Stanford Cardinal The Stanford Cardinal are the athletic teams that represent Stanford University. As of June, 2022, Stanford's program has won 131 NCAA team championships. Stanford has won at least one NCAA team championship each academic year for 46 consecutive ...

player. Lydia Bai herself is played by Audrey Hui (

Joan Chen Joan Chen (born April 26, 1961) is a Chinese-American actress and film director. In China, she performed in the 1979 film and came to the attention of American audiences for her performance in the 1987 film ''The Last Emperor''. She is also ...

's daughter) in the film.

2013–16 Chinese national team

* Zhu Ting as Herself *

Xu Yunli Xu Yunli (; born 2 August 1987) is a Chinese volleyball player. She was part of the gold medal winning team at the 2006 Asian Games and the silver medal winning team at the 2007 World Grand Prix. Career Xu played at the 2013 Club World Champio ...

as Herself *

Hui Ruoqi Hui Ruoqi (; born 4 March 1991) is a former Chinese volleyball player. She is the Outside Hitter and the fifteenth Captain of China women's national volleyball team, and plays for Jiangsu. She retired in 2018. Early life On March 4, 1991, Hui ...

as Herself *

Yuan Xinyue Yuan Xinyue (; born 21 December 1996) is a Chinese volleyball player who plays as a Middle Blocker. She is a member of the China women's national volleyball team and plays for Bayi since 2014. At 2.03m, Yuan is the tallest player in the history ...

as Herself * Yan Ni as Herself *

Gong Xiangyu Gong Xiangyu (; born 21 April 1997) is a Chinese volleyball player. On club level, she plays for Jiangsu. Personal She was born in Lianyungang to a P.E. teacher mother who was once a national épée champion, and a policeman father who used to p ...

as Herself *

Ding Xia Ding Xia (, born 13 January 1990) is a Chinese volleyball player. She is the main setter of the China women's national volleyball team and has been representing the team in international competitions since 2014. At the club level, she plays for t ...

as Herself * Lin Li as Herself *

Zhang Changning Zhang Changning (; born 6 November 1995) is a Chinese indoor volleyball and beach volleyball player. She is a member of China women's national volleyball team. At the club level, she plays for Jiangsu Zenith Steel. Personal life She was bor ...

as Herself *

Liu Xiaotong Liu Xiaotong (; born 16 February 1990) is a Chinese volleyball player. She participated at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, 2014 Montreux Volley Masters, 2016 Montreux Volley Masters, 2017 Montreux Volley Masters, 2018 Montreux Vol ...

as Herself * Yao Di as

Wei Qiuyue Wei Qiuyue (; born 26 September 1988) is a retired Chinese volleyball player. She was the captain of China women's national volleyball team between 2008-2012. Career She was part of the bronze medal winning teams at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Gam ...

Zeng Chunlei Zeng Chunlei (; born 3 November 1989 in Beijing), is a Chinese volleyball player, who is a member of the Chinese women's national team that participated at the London Olympic Games. She currently plays for Chinese club Beijing. Career Zeng pl ...

Liu Yanhan Liu Yanhan (; born 19 January 1993 in Liaoning) is a Chinese volleyball player. She is an outside spiker and an opposite spiker. She won the 2015 and 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, and she was the Best Outside Spiker in 2019 FIVB Vol ...

Zheng Yixin Zheng Yixin (; born 6 May 1995 in Zhangzhou, Fujian) is a Chinese volleyball player. She is the Middle Blocker of China women's national volleyball team. She played at 2015 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Final round, which was held in Omaha, N ...

Wang Mengjie Wang Mengjie (; born ) is a Chinese volleyball player. She is part of the China women's national volleyball team. On club level she played for Shandong in 2015. She was part of the China team in 2017 who took part in the FIVB Volleyball World G ...

* Wang Yuanyuan *

Yang Hanyu Yang Hanyu (; born October 12, 1999, in Shandong) is a Chinese volleyball player. Her former full name is Yang Liu (). She participated at the 2018 Montreux Volley Masters, 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League, and 2018 FIVB Volleyball Wom ...

* Wang Lujia as the player who quit 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.)

1980s Chinese national team

*Lydia Bai as

* Li Dongxu as

Chen Zhaodi Chen Zhaodi (; 15 April 1955 – 1 April 2013) was a Chinese volleyball player, coach, and military general. She was a key member of the China women's national volleyball team, Chinese national team that won the 1981 FIVB Volleyball Women's Worl ...

** Liu Mintao as Old Chen Zhaodi * Chen Zhan as

Sun Jinfang Sun Jinfang (, born 6 April 1955 in Suzhou) is a Chinese former volleyball player who played the setter position. She captained China to the gold medal at both the 1981 FIVB Women's World Cup and the 1982 FIVB Women's World Championship. She als ...

* Luo Hui as

Zhou Xiaolan Zhou Xiaolan (simplified Chinese: 周晓兰, born October 9, 1957) is a former Chinese people, Chinese volleyball player who was a starting middle blocker for the China women's national volleyball team, China Women's National Volleyball Team, wh ...

* Ling Min as Zhou Lumin * Ma Xuechun as

Zhang Rongfang Zhang Rongfang (; born April 15, 1957) is a Chinese retired volleyball player and coach who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. She was a member of the Chinese volleyball team which won the gold medal, having played in all five matches. Caree ...

* Liu Chang as Yang Xi * Liu Chenxi as Zhang Jieyun * Li Ziwei as Chen Yaqiong * Mao Wen as

Cao Huiying Cao Huiying (, born 1954 in Luannan County) is a Chinese former volleyball player. She was a member of the Chinese national team that won gold at both the 1981 FIVB Women's World Cup and the 1982 FIVB Women's World Championship. She also won a g ...

* Liu Zhenhong as

Liang Yan Liang Yan (simplified Chinese: 梁艳, born October 4, 1961) is a Chinese volleyball player, who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. In 1984, she was a member of the Chinese volleyball team which won the gold medal. She played all five matche ...

* Li Yangyi as Zhu Ling

Others

* Kaori Kodaira as

Miyoko Hirose Miyoko Hirose (広瀬美代子 ''Hirose Miyoko'', born March 5, 1959) is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of the Japan Women's National Team that won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. National team * 1982 ...

Hitomi Nakamichi is a former Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She was served as captain of the team since 2013. She was also part of the Japanese team that won the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She was retired from being vol ...

Logan Tom Logan Maile Lei Tom (born May 25, 1981) was an American indoor volleyball, beach volleyball player, and is current head coach of the Israel women's national volleyball team. She is a four-time Olympian at the outside hitter position. At age 19, L ...

as Herself *Halle Johnson as

Flo Hyman Flora Jean "Flo" Hyman (July 31, 1954 – January 24, 1986) was an American athlete who played volleyball. She was an Olympic silver medalist and played professional volleyball in Japan. Early life and education Hyman was the second of eight chi ...

Jarasporn Bundasak Jarasporn Bundasak ( th, จรัสพร บรรดาศักดิ์, ; born March 1, 1993) is a Thai indoor volleyball player. She is a current member of the Thailand women's national volleyball team. Career Bundasak ranked in seventh ...

Sutadta Chuewulim Sutadta Chuewulim ( th, สุทัตตา เชื้อวู้หลิม, born 19 December 1992 in Kanchanaburi) is a Thai indoor volleyball player. She is a member of the Thailand women's national volleyball team. Clubs * Supreme C ...

* Anongporn Promrat *

Tapaphaipun Chaisri Tapaphaipun Chaisri ( th, ฐาปไพพรรณ ไชยศรี; , born November 29, 1989) is a member of the Thailand women's national volleyball team. Career In the 2009 Asian University Games, she won the Most Valuable Player award. ...

Jaqueline Carvalho Jaqueline Maria Pereira de Carvalho Endres (born December 31, 1983 in Recife, Brazil) is a Brazilian volleyball player, a member of the Brazilian team that won the Olympic Games at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Career Club She started her caree ...

as Herself *

Marianne Steinbrecher Marianne Steinbrecher (born August 23, 1983) is a Brazilian volleyball player, who plays as a wing spiker at Molico/Osasco. She represented her native country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, in which she helped her country win t ...

Juliana Nogueira Juliana de Souza Nogueira (born 4 August 1988) is a Brazilian female volleyball player. She is part of the Brazil women's national volleyball team. She competed at the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix. She played for Missouri State University, and Un ...

Paula Pequeno Paula Renata Marques Pequeno, better known as Paula Pequeno (born January 22, 1982), is a two-time Olympic gold medal winning volleyball player from Brazil. She was born in Brasília, Distrito Federal. She plays for Vôlei Bauru. Career Peque ...

* Bárbara Kozonoe *Alexandre Rivetti de Azevedo as

José Roberto Guimarães José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...

*Liu Tao as

Feng Kun Feng Kun (; born 28 December 1978 in Beijing) is a retired China women's national volleyball team setter and captain. She was awarded MVP and Best Setter award at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where China won the gold medal in volleyball. ...

*Zhao Chenlu as

Wang Yimei Wang Yimei (; born 11 January 1988 in Dalian, Liaoning) is a Chinese volleyball player. She lives in Liaoning Province. She played her first match for China in 2005 and has represented the national side at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, wh ...

*Li Shan as

Lai Yawen Lai Yawen (, born 9 September 1970 in Dalian) is a Chinese former volleyball player and the current assistant coach of China's women's national volleyball team. She competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and in the 1996 Summer Olympics The ...

* Li Xian (special appearance) *Zhang Hanyan as Lang Ping's mother *Audrey Hui as Lang Ping's daughter

Production

Hong Kong American Hongkongese Americans (Cantonese: 美籍香港人), include Americans who are also Hong Kong permanent residents who identify themselves as Hongkongers (who see Hong Kong as their home and are culturally associated with Hong Kong, especially thro ...

director

was signed to direct the film. Gong Li plays the female lead,

, the current head coach of the China women's national volleyball team. Filming began on April 16, 2019 and wrapped up in August 2019.

Soundtrack

The theme song "River of Life" (生命之河) is a duet by

Faye Wong Faye Wong ( zh, 王菲; born Xia Lin on 8 August 1969) is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter. Early in her career she briefly used the stage name Shirley Wong. Born in Beijing, she moved to Hong Kong in 1987 and her debut album '' Shirley Wong'' ( ...

and

Na Ying Na Ying (born 27 November 1967) is a Chinese singer and musical judge. She is known for her prominent roles as a judge on Chinese TV singing shows such as ''The Voice of China''. She later transferred to the show '' Sing! China'' and remained th ...

, and produced by

Zhang Yadong Zhang Yadong (张亚东, Shanxi, born 11 March 1969) is one of China's best-known record producers, known as "the golden producer". His mother was a Shanxi#Music, Shanxi Opera singer. He learned the cello from age 8 and began composing when he wa ...

. The promotion song "Day and Night" (不分昼夜) is sang by

Jackson Yee Jackson Yee (, Chinese name Yi Yangqianxi, born on 28 November 2000) is a Chinese actor, dancer and singer. After a talent manager discovered him at a children's talent competition, where he performed a hip-hop dance, and signed to TF Entertainm ...

, and produced by Radio Mars

Instrumental music

Release

''Leap'' was scheduled for release on January 25, 2020, in China, but was withdrawn due to

. The film debuted in China on September 25, 2020, a few days before the

National Day of the People's Republic of China National Day ( zh, s=国庆节, t=, p=guóqìng jié, l=national celebration day, links=yes), officially the National Day of the People's Republic of China (), is a public holiday in China celebrated annually on 1 October as the national da ...

. 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.

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.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Leap 2020 films 2020 biographical drama films 2020s Mandarin-language films 2020s sports drama films Biographical films about sportspeople Chinese biographical drama films Chinese sports drama films Films about the 2008 Summer Olympics Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic Films scored by Shigeru Umebayashi Films set in 1981 Films set in 2008 Films set in 2013 Films set in 2016 Films set in Beijing Films set in Osaka Films set in Rio de Janeiro (city) Films shot in Beijing Volleyball films

Cast

2013–16 Chinese national team

1980s Chinese national team

Others

Production

Soundtrack

Instrumental music

Release

Reception

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links