Breaking Through (2022 film)

Breaking Through
Directed by	Wang Fangfang
Screenplay by	Wang Fangfang Wang Zhebin
Produced by	Liu Ruifang
Starring	Meng Meiqi Xia Yu
Distributed by	Beijing Qitai Ocean Culture Media Co., Ltd. Beijing Juhe Yinglian Culture Media Co., Ltd.
Release date	February 25, 2022 (2022-02-25)
Running time	104 minutes
Country	China
Language	Mandarin
Box office	(CN¥6.33 million)

Breaking Through (Chinese: 我心飞扬; pinyin: Wǒ xīn fēi yáng; trans. "Float in the Sky") is a 2022 Chinese sports drama film directed by Wang Fangfang, and starring Meng Meiqi and Xia Yu. The film, which is based on true events and of short-track speed skater Yang Yang, follows the Chinese national short-track speed skating team as they try to win a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, United States.

Synopsis

In 1980, China began its participation in the Winter Olympic Games but lose opportunity to win the gold medal in the subsequent games. In order to achieve a breakthrough zero, short speed skating coach Qin Shan (Xia Yu) forms the Chinese short-track speed skating national team represented by Yang Fan (Meng Meiqi). They work together in order to win the gold medal and in process, the bond between the coach and student being put to the ultimate test.

Cast

• Meng Meiqi as Yang Fan, Olympic short track speed skater and is based on the real life short-track speed skater Yang Yang
  • Liu Wenxi as 7-year old Yang Fan
• Xia Yu, as Qin Shan, short track speed skating coach of the Chinese team
• Pei Kuishan as Zhao Haibo
• Sa Rina as Jiang Hong, Yang Fan's mother
• Jiao Gang as Wu Ping
• Zhang Guoqiang as Jin Yalin
• Liang Wenhui as Yang Xin, Yang Fan's younger sister
• Li Muzi as Wu Haixia

Production

During the selection process of the cast, director Wang Fangfang had several requirenents. First, they had to be born after 1995, because short track speed skating is a bit difficult for beginners and if the actress is too old, she is likely unable to perform well. Second, she had to be in very good physical condition like an athlete. Third, she had to be a very good actress and be able to have an impact with the audience. Producer Xu Zheng agreed with Wang's requirements but added an additional one: they had to be cooperative. Because prior filming, the actresses had to train diligently for four months and gain weight, so that they would have physicality of those of short track speed skaters and as a result, some actors rejected the audition process for the movie.

On 2 March 2021, the filming process began in the city of Qitaihe, Heilongjiang. In order to present the best effect of Olympic athletes, the actors engaged in high-intensity training for short track speed skating and in order to play the role of a short track speed skater, Meng Meiqi started training four months in advance and in order to be closer in terms of physique of a short track speed skater, she gained 15 kg (33 lb). In order to embody her character's role, Meng put a rock inside one of her ice skates in order to feel the real pain, causing her foot to bleed. The film was shot in Northeast China at temperatures of −10 °C (14 °F). To present the summer training part of the film, the actresses wore short sleeves and completed several hours of intensive filming.

During the filming, when Heilongjiang was in the midst of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Propaganda Department of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee provided assistance in the filming process through location scouting, production safety and epidemic prevention and control, ensuring that the film crew successfully completed filming. On May 9, the filming was officially completed after 68 days and nights of shooting.

Pre-publicity and release

On 26 September 2018, the film crew held a press conference to announce the start of filming. On 31 December 2020, the concept poster of the film was released and it was announced that it would be released on the first day of the Chinese New Year in 2022 (February 1). On 22 February 2022, the final trailer was released revealing that the film would be released on 25 February 2022, five days after the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. On February 22, the film held its first premiere at the China National Film Museum in Beijing. On February 24 and 25, the film held its screenings in Chongqing and Harbin respectively. Following its official release in China on 25 February 2022, the film was officially released in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries in September 2023, and in Nigeria in April 2023.

Prior to its release on February 25, the film was estimated to make ¥100 million in box office. However, following its release and till March 2022, the film only made less than ¥6 million in box office and according to Hong Kong news portal HK01, this made the film a box office flop.

Soundtrack

The film's official theme song My Heart is Flying (Chinese: 心飞扬; pinyin: Xīn fēi yáng) was sung by Meng Meiqi.

Awards and nominations

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Golden Deer Awards	August 2022	Best Screenplay	Wang Fangfang, Wang Zhebin	Nominated
Milan International Sports Film and Television Festival	November 2022	Unit nomination (Film)	Breaking Through	Won

External links

• Breaking Through at Douban (in Chinese)
• Breaking Through at IMDb