Shaolin Soccer

Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer (2001) is a delirious fusion of martial arts and sports comedy that feels like nothing else. Sing (Chow) is a Shaolin disciple who drags his disillusioned brothers off construction sites and out of bus depots to form a soccer team. Their secret weapon? Kung fu powers that let them kick balls through goalposts and leap like superheroes. Chow directs, co-writes, and stars, with Ng Man-Tat as the alcoholic ex-pro Fung and Vicky Zhao Wei as the timid baker Mui. Shot on a $10 million budget, the film earned over $42 million worldwide and swept the Hong Kong Film Awards, winning Best Picture, Director, and Actor. Miramax picked it up for international release, trimming 26 minutes for US audiences. No sequels followed, but its influence shows up in everything from Kung Fu Panda to Captain Tsubasa.[edit]

Sing walks the streets of Hong Kong carrying a rusty steel helmet, trying to recruit students for Shaolin kung fu. Nobody buys it. He stumbles into Fung, once known as Golden Leg, now a one-legged drunk who lost everything to his old teammate Hung. Fung laughs at Sing's idea of kung fu soccer, but the two strike a deal: if Sing can convince his brothers, Fung will coach them. Those brothers have scattered into dead-end jobs. Iron Head works construction, Hooking Leg drives a bus, Iron Shirt washes dishes, Empty Hands performs on the street, and Weight Vest guards a parking lot. None of them want anything to do with Shaolin anymore.

Sing reignites their faith with a simple demonstration: he kicks a soccer ball so hard it bends a goalpost. One by one, the brothers rediscover their skills. Iron Head can headbutt the ball through concrete, Hooking Leg's flexible legs curl around defenders, and Weight Vest anchors the defense like a boulder. Fung, despite his alcoholism, teaches them basic formations and strategy. Their first match is against a team of thugs, and the crowd watches in disbelief as the Shaolin players fly through the air, leaving trails of dust. Word spreads quickly, and soon they're the underdog darlings of the local tournament.

Parallel to the soccer plot, Mui works at her family's steamed bun shop, hiding her face behind her hair because of acne. She practices Tai Chi in secret, able to deflect objects with her palms. Sing notices her kindness and encourages her, but she's too shy to speak. Hung, meanwhile, watches the Shaolin team's rise with contempt. He has built Team Evil on steroids and bribery, and he won't let a bunch of monks ruin his empire. He sends his players to sabotage the Shaolin brothers, injuring Iron Head before a key match. The brothers must play through pain and against rigged referees. Fung's past catches up with him when Hung humiliates him on national TV, forcing Fung to confront his own cowardice. The championship match looms, with the Shaolin team battered and outmatched. Mui, inspired by Sing's belief in her, makes a choice that will change everything.[edit]