Though the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics have ended, a new film based on China's national speed-skating heroes was released this weekend, promising to keep the athletic spirit alive before the Winter Paralympics begin in March.

"Breaking Through," a film licensed by the organizing committee of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, is directed by Wang Fangfang and produced by heavyweight actor and director Xu Zheng, starring Meng Meiqi and Xia Yu. It tells the story of how China clinched its first Winter Olympic gold at the 2002 Games, held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Inspired by actual events, the film follows the struggles, highs, and lows in life and the eventual glory of speed-skater Yang Yang (renamed as Yang Fan for the movie), whose performance in the women's 500 meters short-track race made her the first Chinese athlete to win a gold medal at that Winter Games. It was an excellent year for the country’s pride, whose athletes went on to achieve their historical best, bringing home two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes.

"Until now, there was no such film to show short-track speed-skating race in this way. This is a modern visual demonstration in an action movie fashion," director Wang said at an advanced film screening event held on Wednesday. He shared that the race scenes were very hard to record on film. The crew even invented and developed many innovative approaches and devices to capture the thrilling moments during the filming process.

"Making this film was not easy. However, I just feel so happy this film can meet the audience after all the hardships," said Wang Zhebin, the screenwriter and chief producer of the film. The movie was filmed in some of the coldest parts of northeast China. She added that she hoped the film would tell good Chinese stories and demonstrate the Olympic spirit while recognizing those silent people, such as coaches, who made their contributions behind the scenes.

Veteran actor Xia Yu plays the coach of the Chinese national team for speed skating and the mentor of Yang. "The director was very serious and devoted to the film, and the cast and crew were the same. The young actresses who played the skaters were so focused and hardworking, and they trained for four months before shooting the film. When I first met them, I thought they were professional athletes rather than actors," Xia said.

He added, "I think the greatness in athletes is despite encountering difficulties in competitions, they can adjust their minds, emotion, and passion and push themselves to the limit. The energy is so big."

"Breaking Through" serves as the last installment of "China's Olympic Journey" trilogy. The other two were "The One Man Olympics" by Hou Yong, inspired by the story of Liu Changchun, the first Chinese to participate in the Olympic Games in 1932, and "Champion," also by Wang Fangfang, which tells how Chinese shooter Xu Haifeng won the first gold medal in China's Olympic history.

"Sports films have charisma, attracting me to make them," Wang said. "For example, when I interviewed Xu Haifeng and Yang Yang as I prepared the films, I listened to them all through the nights. I felt the stories of their growth inspire me, and I became more mature through the communications. Making such films is not just a job; it is our life."

With the support of the local governments of Beijing, Heilongjiang province, and Jilin province, “Breaking Through" also benefitted from speed skating professionals and coaches who participated and consulted in the production, including Yang Yang herself, the legendary athlete who won 59 world titles in her 23-year career. After watching the film, Yang said it was the epitome of her spiritual journey.

"I hope this film can evoke respect for the generations of winter sports athletes in the past 42 years and allow us to pay homage to athletes who just competed in Beijing 2022 too," she said on Tuesday at the premiere of the film based on her. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics have proved golden for China as it bagged 15 medals, including nine gold medals, to break its previous record. 

Yang continued, "Sport is something that pushes you to make breakthroughs and grow. You can gain respect and friendship in the competitions, and inspire the world with a better interpretation of the Olympic motto of 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together' as well as making more people believe in peace and beautiful things."

"Breaking Through" was released nationwide on Feb. 25.

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