Clash

A film about American Football from China? You better believe it. Based on the incredible true story of the Chongqing Dockers, Jiang Jia-chen’s heartwarming sports dramedy Clash tells the merry tale of a bumbling football team and their rise to sporting glory.

Since he was a child, Yonggan has been known for his running skills – especially useful when facing bullies and other troubles – but now, he is the fastest delivery guy in Shapingba. Motivated by a poster promising the winner of the Eternity Cup championship an inspiring monetary prize, he gathers a bunch of street-skilled men and forms a team of rugged individualists, who come together as a community to negotiate personal hang-ups and desires. As the Dockers grope their way to glory with passion, determination and on-field magic, the film adroitly serves every play in the sports movie playbook and then some.

While Clash offers all the pleasures of an underdog drama, the film also charts the changing values and mores of a young China. At its centre are a generation of dreamers who know they must break free from their social shackles to seize their moment under the floodlights. Set in the booming metropolis of Chongqing, the film adopts a suitably vivid style. With Qian Tiantian, one of a few female directors of photography in China, behind the camera, a hip-hop-heavy soundtrack, and a lot of humour and heart, Clash achieves world peace on the football field.

– Srikanth Srinivasan

Clash also screens at Pathé de Kuip (Thursday 6 February, 18.10)
These tickets can be bought via button below. For other screenings scroll down. 

Tickets Pathé de Kuip

Trailer

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