One Second Champion

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One Second Champion
Theatrical poster
Traditional Chinese一秒拳王
Directed byChiu Sin Hang
Written byAshley Cheung
Ho Siu-Hong
Lee Ho-Tin
Ling Wai-Chun
Story byChiu Sin Hang
Produced byMani Man
StarringEndy Chow
Chiu Sin Hang
Chanon Santinatornkul
Lin Min Chen
CinematographyOliver Lau
Edited byJack Tang
Music byHarry Ng
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • 22 November 2020 (2020-11-22) (Hong Kong Asian Film Festival)
  • 11 March 2021 (2021-03-11) (Hong Kong)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

One Second Champion (Chinese: 一秒拳王) is a 2021 Hong Kong sports film directed by Chiu Sin Hang, marking his second feature film project after Vampire Cleanup Department (2017). Chiu also takes on a lead role, alongside Endy Chow, Chanon Santinatornkul, and Lin Min Chen, portraying an asthmatic heir of a boxing gym who transforms a gambling addict with an ability to see one second into the future (played by Chow) into a professional boxer.

The film premiered as the closing film of Hong Kong Asian Film Festival on November 22, 2020, and was theatrically released on March 11, 2021, in Hong Kong. It was named a Film of Merit in the 27th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards and received four nominations in the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Synopsis[edit]

Chow Tin Yan is a child prodigy with the ability to foresee one second into the future due to his one-second-long heartbeat pause at birth. He is coerced by his father into cheating in gambling. Unfortunately, his foresight is of no use at the gambling table as it only provides limited advantages, leading his father to consider him useless.

Years later, as a grown-up, Chow becomes addicted to gambling to raise money for his hearing-impaired son, Chi Leung's surgery. He works at a pub and faces debt collectors one day. To evade their attacks, Chow utilizes his foreseeing ability, deftly dodging their punches and causing them to stumble or hit each other. Witnessing Chow's talents, Yip Chi Shun, a boxer and heir to a struggling boxing gym, approaches Chow and recruits him as his sparring partner. With his pub job lost after the altercation with the debt collectors, Chow agrees to join Yip and begins training the next day. However, his laziness and quick exhaustion raise doubts in Yiu, Yip's cousin and yoga instructor at the gym, about Chow's usefulness to Yip's training. Nevertheless, Chow's dedication and energy increase when his son, Chi Leung, accompanies him to the gym.

Yip eventually enters an open championship but succumbs to asthma, forcing him to withdraw after only half a round. Dissatisfied with the lack of excitement from their gym's fighters, both the opponent and audience express their disappointment. Yip then asks Chow to replace him as the gym's representative, to which Chow reluctantly agrees. Despite being a novice with amateur moves, Chow's foreseeing ability helps him dodge most punches and deliver a powerful blow to his opponent, securing victory. Encouraged by his talent in boxing, Chow decides to become a boxer at Yip's gym, engaging in tough training. With his boxing skills improving significantly and his one-second foreseeing ability, he advances through the preliminaries until the finals, where he faces a formidable opponent, Sung Ngo Yeung. Despite Sung's aggressive attacks, Chow skillfully evades every move, including a surprise head punch. Suspicious of Chow's uncanny abilities, Sung investigates and discovers his one-second foreseeing power. He lodges a complaint with the boxing association, resulting in Chow's disqualification according to the association's guidelines on body standards.

Meanwhile, Joe, a champion boxer, finds himself without funding after unintentionally killing an opponent. Desperate for an exhibition match to attract new investments, Joe's coach approaches Chow, considering his foreseeing ability as a gimmick. However, Sung confronts Chow that night, accusing him of stealing the opportunity to fight Joe and winning matches solely based on his ability rather than hard work. During their argument, Chi Leung, frightened, rushes onto the road, and in an attempt to save him, Chow is struck by a van, losing his foreseeing ability in the accident. Sung apologizes to Chow, and with Chi Leung's encouragement, Chow resolves to continue fighting against Joe, pushing through grueling training.

However, Chow initially struggles to match Joe's skill and finds himself at a significant disadvantage in the first two rounds of the match against Joe. Joe grows contemptuous of Chow, perceiving him as too weak. Undeterred, Chow displays exceptional endurance and determination, repeatedly standing up despite Joe's relentless attacks. The two fighters endure until the tenth round, both sustaining severe injuries. Chow's evolution throughout the match allows him to dodge Joe's final blows, almost as if he has regained his foreseeing ability, and persists until the match's final bell. As he teeters on the brink of collapse from his injuries, Joe rushes over to steady him, having earned Chow's respect through their bout. Although Chow ultimately loses the match in terms of score, he celebrates joyfully with his son and newfound friends.

Cast[edit]

  • Endy Chow as Chow Tin Yan: a gamble addict-turned-boxer who can see one second into the future and desperately needs funding for his hearing-impaired son's surgery.[1]
  • Chanon Santinatornkul as Joe Cheng Yiu Jo: a Thai boxing champion.[1]
  • Chiu Sin Hang as Yip Chi Shun: a boxing fanatic and the heir of a boxing gym who suffers from asthma.[1]
  • Lin Min Chen as Yiu: the cousin of Yip and the potential love interest of Chow who teaches yoga at Yip's boxing gym.[1]
  • Justin Cheung as Sung Ngo Yeung: a high-ranking boxer with the nickname "Iron Hammer".[2]
  • Hung Cheuk Lok as Chow Chi Leung: the hearing-impaired son of Chow Tin Yan.[1]

Actors credited as special appearances include Lo Hoi-pang as the barkeeper of the pub where Chow works;[2] Ben Yuen as Master Cheung, the coach of Joe and a respected member of the boxing association;[2] Wong You-nam as Chow Tin Yan's father;[3] and Kaki Sham as a policeman.[4] Babyjohn Choi made a cameo appearance as a janitor which resembles his character in another Chiu Sin Hang's film Vampire Cleanup Department.[2]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

Following the conclusion of filming Vampire Cleanup Department, director Chiu Sin Hang was inspired by the soundtracks of Rocky and decided to write a heart-lifting story about boxing.[5] This idea eventually evolved into One Second Champion prior to the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests.[5] In 2019, Endy Chow was invited to join the project and accepted the role due to his desire to film a boxing movie.[6] Lin Min Chen, the lead actress of Vampire Cleanup Department, was also invited by Chiu to star in the film, and she accepted the role on spot after reading the script.[7] Both Chiu and Chow, the two lead actors, underwent six months of boxing training and followed a strict diet in preparation for filming.[5][6] The film was officially announced in August 2019,[8] and production took place during the protests.[5] Chiu stated that the crew incorporated the emotions triggered by the social atmosphere into the film.[5] In October 2019, Thai actor Chanon Santinatornkul was cast in the film,[9] marking his first international action film project.[10] He learned boxing and Cantonese specifically for the film.[10] An official trailer was released in November 2020, revealing Lo Hoi-pang, Ben Yuen, Justin Cheung, and child actor Hung Cheuk Lok as part of the cast.[11]

Filming[edit]

Principal photography began on August 30, 2019.[12] The majority of the scenes were filmed in Tai Po, which included interior shots of Yip's boxing gym and the pub where Chow worked, as well as at the Yan Hing Street Refuse Collection Point.[13] Scenes depicting Chow jogging and conversing with Yiu were shot at Ma Liu Shui and Sam Mun Tsai, respectively.[13] While filming the final match between Chow and Santinatornkul, Chow sustained an injury to his forehead and required twelve stitches. However, he returned to the set without resting to ensure that the filming schedule would not be delayed.[14][15] Filming ultimately wrapped on September 30, 2019.[16]

Release[edit]

One Second Champion premiered as the closing film of the Hong Kong Asian Festival on November 22, 2020.[17] Initially, the film was scheduled to have five days of early screenings from November 28 to December 2, 2020, followed by a theatrical release on December 3 in Hong Kong.[18] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government shut down the cinemas on December 2,[18] leading to a postponement of the release date to March 11, 2021.[19] The film was also selected for screening in the 23rd Far East Film Festival.[20]

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

One Second Champion grossed over HK$3 million in its first weekend and reached HK$7 million by the second week, maintaining its box office dominance for eight consecutive days.[21][22] The film surpassed the HK$10 million mark within the third week,[22] and ultimately accumulated a total of HK$15.56 million, surpassing Beyond the Dream as the highest-grossing domestic film during the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] The film's box office run concluded at HK$17 million, making it the second highest-grossing domestic film of 2021.[24]

Critical response[edit]

Edmund Lee of South China Morning Post gave the film 3/5 stars and recognized the delivery of an ultimate underdog story with a rousing climax in the final boxing match, highlighting the energetic performances and standout moments from Chiu Sin Hang, Lin Min Chen, and Hung Cheuk Lok.[1] Kwok Kar Peng of AsiaOne praised the film for its polished execution, well-developed characters, captivating cinematography during boxing matches, and its uplifting theme of underdogs transforming their lives through determination and shifts in perspective, making it a feel-good flick that offered a hopeful message.[25] Yan Ki of Hong Kong Inmedia recommended the film for its engaging story, fast pacing, and Endy Chow's impressive performance, emphasizing its enjoyment factor beyond mere localness.[26] Ho Siu Bun of am730 lauded the film with a decent level of quality, noting the director's improvement from his previous work, but also pointed out some shortcomings in the execution of comedy and the absence of dramatic elements.[27]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2021 27th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award Best Film — Nominated [28]
Best Screenplay Ashley Cheung, Ho Siu-Hong, Lee Ho-Tin, Ling Wai-Chun Nominated
Film of Merit — Won [29]
2020 Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards Best Actor Endy Chow Won [30]
2020 Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild Awards Best Movie Character of the Year Won [31]
Best Screenplay Ashley Cheung, Ho Siu-Hong, Lee Ho-Tin, Ling Wai-Chun Won
2022 40th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Screenplay Nominated [32]
Best Action Choreography Pokyan Leung Nominated
Best Original Film Song "Origin of Time" Won
Best New Director Chiu Sin Hang Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Lee, Edmund (March 10, 2021). "One Second Champion movie review: boxing drama with a fantasy twist from Vampire Cleanup Department director" (in Chinese). South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "《一秒拳王》 超能underdog 意志才是致勝關鍵" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. March 13, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "周國賢為新片練拳操身形嗌苦 黃又南演惡父不忍打小演員" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "獨家丨岑珈其感激恆仔念舊乜都預佢 口水佬拍《和解》要封嘴超難頂" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. April 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e 丁喬 (July 22, 2022). "專訪｜一步步上金像獎舞台　趙善恆：承受生命之重，一秒秒改寫將來" (in Chinese). Wavezine. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "【一秒拳王】導演趙善恆熱血解構「一秒」主題　周國賢增30磅練拳半年：每一秒都想放棄" (in Chinese). TOPick. March 9, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  7. ^ 沈洛嘉 (November 20, 2020). "一秒拳王｜林明禎日夜密練瑜伽　接到劇本即應承︰今次多好多對白" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "周國賢唔敢認林明禎做女神" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. August 31, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  9. ^ 陳栢宇 (October 2, 2019). "【多圖】泰國男神Nonkul戀上親姑姐？　女主角Kao靚過「明詩」N倍" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  10. ^ a b 沈洛嘉 (March 13, 2021). "一秒拳王．專訪｜Nonkul堅持背對白唔配音　「學廣東話難過打拳」" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "【一秒拳王】女神林明禎再演ToNick恆仔執導新作　周國賢與泰國男神鬥騷肌" (in Chinese). TOPick. November 12, 2020. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  12. ^ "摸周國賢手仔嫌唔浪漫林明禎：覺得濕答答" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily News. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "【一秒拳王】上映4日票房累破300萬元　周國賢謝票即場與趙善恆Jam歌" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings. March 15, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "拍《一秒拳王》拍到打爆眼角要縫針 周國賢受傷反變電影劇情" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. November 27, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "一秒拳王｜周國賢拍擂台戲真受傷 被打爆眼角入院縫8針" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. November 26, 2020. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  16. ^ "周國賢激戰拳王周身傷" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily News. October 1, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  17. ^ 王誦賢 (November 23, 2020). "【一秒拳王】無懼第四波疫情殺到　張建聲：相信好戲有好報！" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  18. ^ a b 沈洛嘉 (December 1, 2020). "戲院再關閉｜《一秒拳王》上映4日即暫別　呼籲影迷今日最後撐場" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  19. ^ "【一秒拳王】上映4日票房累破300萬元　周國賢謝票即場與趙善恆Jam歌" (in Chinese). TOPick. March 15, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  20. ^ Chow, Vivienne (June 10, 2021). "Far East Film Festival Returns With Hybrid Edition". Variety. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "《一秒拳王》票房逾300萬 周國賢趙善恆謝票唱埋主題曲" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  22. ^ a b 許育民 (April 2, 2021). "《一秒拳王》票房破千萬　盤點千萬港片《淪落人》《29+1》齊上榜" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  23. ^ 沈洛嘉 (April 20, 2021). "《一秒拳王》票房破$1,556萬超越《幻愛》　打出疫情下港產片冠軍" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "《奪冠》掃導演會4大獎 《一秒拳王》周國賢首稱帝：愈踩會做得愈好" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  25. ^ Kwok, Kar Peng (July 1, 2021). "Review: Small Hong Kong movie One Second Champion punches above its weight". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  26. ^ 殷琦 (March 15, 2021). "〈一秒拳王〉——不為政見而睇、不為香港本土而睇、而是因為太好睇所以要入場睇！" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Inmedia. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  27. ^ 何兆彬 (March 11, 2021). "《一秒拳王》廢中打拳 敗局中勵志" (in Chinese). am730. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "第二十七屆香港電影評論學會大獎得獎理由撮要" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Film Critics Society. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  29. ^ "電影評論學會大獎｜《一秒拳王》成推薦電影 周國賢感恩被肯定" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. March 10, 2021. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  30. ^ "《奪冠》掃導演會4大獎 《一秒拳王》周國賢首稱帝：愈踩會做得愈好" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  31. ^ 王誦賢 (August 10, 2021). "香港電影編劇家協會公布年度獎項　《一秒拳王》周國賢奪角色獎" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  32. ^ Soriano, Jianne (February 16, 2022). "Hong Kong Film Awards 2022: Full List of Nominees". Tatler Asia. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.

External links[edit]

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