China Heavyweight
In southwestern China, state athletic coaches scour the countryside to recruit poor, rural teenagers who demonstrate a natural ability to throw a good punch. Moved into boxing training centers, these boys and girls undergo a rigorous regimen that grooms them to be China’s next Olympic heroes but also prepares them for life outside the ring. As these young boxers develop, the allure of turning professional for personal gain and glory competes with the main philosophy behind their training – to represent their country. Interconnected with their story is that of their charismatic coach, Qi Moxiang, who – now in his late thirties and determined to win back lost honor – trains for a significant fight.
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Your review
Cast
14 people
Yung Chang Director
Worldwide gross $10K · United States release July 6, 2012 · Produced in Canada, China, Finland, Japan, United Kingdom
Box office
Worldwide gross
$10,481
Production
CNEX Foundation
Production
EyeSteelFilm
Production
Yuan Fang Media
Production
Sundance
Production
NHK
Production
Crave
Production
SODEC
Production
Téléfilm Canada
Production
Canada · China · Finland · Japan · United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original title
千锤百炼
Original language
Chinese
Spoken on screen
Cantonese · Chinese
Release dates
United States · January 20, 2012
Premiere · Sundance Film Festival
Canada · May 11, 2012
Theatrical
United States · July 6, 2012
Theatrical
China
December 20, 2013 · Theatrical
Finland
March 25, 2013 · TV premiere
Germany
May 1, 2013 · TV premiere
Greece
March 14, 2014 · Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
Iceland
September 27, 2012 · Reykjavik International Film Festival
Italy
September 13, 2012 · Milano Film Festival
Japan
September 24, 2012 · Theatrical
Poland
May 11, 2012 · Planete+ Doc Film Festival
Sweden
November 8, 2012 · Stockholm International Film Festival
Taiwan
July 2, 2012 · Taipei Film Festival
United Kingdom
February 12, 2013 · Glasgow Youth Film Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.