Dramedy spotlights underdogs' rise to football glory

Clash, a sports dramedy based on the inspiring true story of an American football team in Southwest China's Chongqing, hit domestic theaters on Saturday.

Presented by iQIYI Pictures and directed by Jiang Jiachen, the film stars Li Jiuxiao and Wang Qianyuan and features a slew of talented comedians, including Pan Binlong, Yang Haoyu, and Liang Chao.

The film tells the story of the grassroots football team Chongqing Dockers, which, against all odds, won the first amateur American football league in China after two years of hard training while its members faced various life struggles.

According to its creators, the film, peppered with Chongqing dialect and humor, is a eulogy to those who are in the gutter but look at the stars.

"When I read the script, I was captivated by the passion, brotherhood, and fighting spirit that were woven into the story," said renowned director Guan Hu, who is also the film's executive producer, during its premiere in Beijing on Friday. He also commended the director for incorporating a genuine Chongqing flavor into the film and for addressing the lack of American football movies in Chinese cinema.

Jiang said he was deeply touched by the story of the Chongqing Dockers and the straightforwardness and indomitable spirit that the Chongqing people embody.

In addition to the local dialect, Clash offers moviegoers a glimpse of the distinct cityscape of the Chinese cyberpunk capital. The film showcases iconic locations such as the Longxing Football Stadium, the Yangtze River Cableway, and the Hongya Cave.