Eclectic and energetic musician, director, actor Chiu Sin-hang is a busy bee. Other than being the lead vocalist of local band ToNick and acting, he managed in 2017 to co-direct with Pak-Wing Yan one of the most cherished films of the last few years, “Vampire Cleanup Department”, which injected new life into the beloved goeng-si genre from the great days of 1980s/‘90s Hong Kong Cinema. This time he is solo-directing another film with a very local flavour, a feeling of nostalgia and a touch of supernatural. Written by Ashley Cheung (“Vampire Cleanup Department” and the excellent “Distinction”) and Ryan Wai-Chun Ling, “One Second Champion” delves into boxing territory and it has just been released in Hong Kong (late on schedule due to the pandemic) where is already proving a local success as box office champion in the first week. Hopefully not just for one second!
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A strange supernatural accident happened when Chow Tin-yan (Endy Chow Kwok-yin) was born; a power malfunctioning, a medical condition, a temporary death for one second, all combined together gave the resuscitated newborn the superpower of foreseeing the future. Well, actually only a little bit of future as Tin-yan can only see one second ahead in time. Nevertheless, this ability is enough to make him a one-second celebrity as a child and stir a bit of media attention with his TV appearances where he guesses cards and numbers just before they are unveiled. But, as the public comments, one second is a bit too short to make something useful out of this superpower, like for example guessing the lottery numbers in time, or the horse race results, and in fact Tin-yan grows up into a man who hasn't achieved much in life. He is set on a minimum effort/minimum result style of life, with a dead-end job in a local bar that provides the bear essential. A broken relationship has left him with a son (Hung Cheuk-lok) who is struggling with a partial hear-loss and Tin-yan dreams to have him operated but doesn't really do much to find the money he needs.
One day, during a clumsy fight with some loan sharks that are after him, Tin-yan is spotted by accidental witness and boxing enthusiast Shun (played by director Chiu Sin-hang). Baffled by his ability to dodge punches, he invites him to the boxing gym he shares with his cousin (Min Chen Lin), an unconvinced laughing-yoga teacher. Shaun is a son of a boxer, and still has some issues from having watched his father loosing badly on the ring; when he fails yet another attempt to conclude a fight, Tin-yan is forced to take his place and discovers his superpower can make him a good (or lucky) boxer. The two start an intense training and Tin-yan proceeds up the championship until, just before the important match against “Instant Killer Joe” (Chanon Santinatornkul), he loses his power while saving his son in an accident. Now Tin-yan must face the hard decision, of going ahead with the match or giving up.
Chiu Sin-hang's take of the familiar boxing/underdog tale uses a well-dosed dash of magic to re-propose an all-time, much-loved genre. However, the superpower here is used to convey its own practical uselessness; like a guardian angel it accompanies the lead to the point where he will have to grow up and walk on his own legs. The classic “Hero's Journey” remains the fundamental blueprint of this movie that follows the prototypical storytelling of redemption and punctually delivers its emotional punch. As an additional pleasant touch, the trainer Shaun – like his interpreter Chiu Sin-hang – is in the double role; he is a guide for the hero, but he is also a hero in his own right, in search of emotional settlement for his painful childhood experience. Another interesting character is the antagonist Joe. His privileged position doesn't kill his motivation as a classic trope would dictate, on the contrary he is too motivated (if such a thing exists) at the point of being ruthless and unforgiving with his opponents' weaknesses, but he will cheer any form of tenacity. He is a troubled soul, it's a shame there was no time or space in the narration for more of his back story.
If the One-Second superpower is practically ineffectual, it is interesting how it is used to spark a reflection about possibilities in life and the infinite paths that our actions can generate. “Every second, every choice can create a new universe” is what Min Chen Lin's melancholic character says. She feels she is stuck in the wrong universe, but as she crosses path with Tin-yan and his son, she comes to realise it's possible to jump out of it.
Nothing is more engaging that boxing films also because they often involve a physical transformation of the actors (along with the characters they play), public loves it and the involvement is boosted. Cantopop star Endy Chow Kwok-yin in the titular champion Chow Tin-yan, is very believable; his arc shows physical and personality metamorphosis and the improving relationship with his son, the wonderful Hung Cheuk-lok, is a testament to his efforts. Chiu Sin-hang's incredibly realistic enthusiasm and positive attitude makes a very good supporting act for the protagonist, while Min Chen Lin (“Vampire Cleanup Department”) and Chanon Santinatornkul (“Bad Genius”) are an excellent cast and make you want to know more about them.
Have fun spotting the cameos, headed by veteran Hong Kong actor Lo Hoi-Pang playing Tin-yan's employer at the bar, Babyjohn Choi in a homage to “Vampire Cleanup Department” and fellow director Pak-Wing Yan. And finally, don't miss, during the end credits, the footage of the training the actors underwent to prepare for the film. Hard work, but also lots of fun.
Hong Kong is having a hard time at the moment and “One Second Champion”'s positive tale of underdogs offers a very welcome and uplifting moment of escapism, with its likable characters, its aura of nostalgia and its display of sportsmanship and tenacity.
