I really liked a line from Gong Li in the movie. When a foreign reporter asked the Chinese women's volleyball team why they cared so much about winning or losing a single game, Gong Li replied, 'Because we aren't strong enough inside. We need victories to prove we're better than others. But once we become mentally strong, we can approach wins and losses with ease after putting in the effort.' This statement resonates with me. It's not that the Asian education system is bad, it's just that in Western countries, there's more emphasis on pursuing interests as a driving force for hard work. In contrast, Asian education can feel more like finding a way out, where only a few paths are considered, and competition is used to determine success. Interests provide a sense of inclusivity, where differences can coexist, while competition often revolves around comparisons in the same field. Just like the first 20 minutes of this movie, it depicts the idea that intense training is to defeat opponents, and every scene is filled with tears, pain, and frustration. Perhaps this film also aims to make modern viewers realize and compare. Gong Li's inner dialogues with her teammates later in the movie encourage unity and finding the right points to shine. I highly recommend this film to both adults and teenagers for some deeper reflection.
