Main Program

Beyond Hot-Blooded Narratives: A Sports Film Selection

The term "hot blood," often synonymous with a spirit of passion, describes the drive to strive for dreams and face challenges without fear. In many sports films, this hot-blooded energy becomes a central element, showcasing the protagonist's growth through uplifting narratives and heroic imagery, delivering a message that hard work always leads to success.

 

But does this kind of storytelling oversimplify the complex realities of the sports world?

 

This program presents seven non-typical sports films that challenge traditional narratives, exploring the struggles and challenges of athletes from different perspectives. Faced with endless training, relentless competitions, and even the threat of death, why do these athletes continue to push their limits? These films downplay the significance of victory, offering open-ended conclusions that reveal another side of sports: beyond competition, they are arenas of human struggle, personal conflict, and societal pressure.

 

2024 has been a year marked by significant sports moments that resonated deeply with Taiwanese society: the highs and lows of female boxers at the Paris Olympics, the sorrowful news of Tai Tzu-ying's impending retirement, and the tragic loss of mountaineers. These events inspired this program. We hope viewers will, through these films, witness the loneliness and perseverance of athletes as they pursue the extreme, understanding the struggles and humanity hidden beneath the glory of competition, and gain a profound inner experience.

 

These films break away from conventional narratives, using cinematic language and the filmmakers' insights to explore the more complex human emotions and themes within the world of sports. Werner Herzog's The Dark Glow of the Mountains and The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner examine the soul's struggle against extreme challenges. Free Solo documents the psychological and emotional toll of a climber's superhuman feats. Nadia, Butterfly portrays the post-retirement confusion and identity crisis of swimmer Nadia, while Downhill Racer captures the intensity and stakes of ski racing. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner tells the story of a rebellious youth using running as a means of defiance and self-redemption in a juvenile detention center, while Small, Slow but Steady follows a hearing-impaired female boxer grappling with personal fears and the harsh realities of her gym's decline.

 

Through creative storytelling, these films challenge our preconceptions of victory and competition, allowing us to view humanity's relentless pursuit of the extreme from a new perspective. Beyond celebrating athletic feats, they invite us into the inner worlds of athletes, exploring the subtle and often inaccessible spiritual dimensions. This program is a mental training session, inviting you to TFAI to redefine what "hot blood" means.

 

 

Program Adjustments

 

【Changes concerning the film rating】(updated 2024/12/27)

• The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner + The Dark Glow of the MountainsG → P

• The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner:G → P

 

【Errata】(updated 2024/12/20)

• ON Programme Guide (January-February), p.21: the screening schedule of Small, Slow but Steady should be corrected to「01.05 SUN 14:00 ▲|01.11 SAT 14:00 ▲ ★」.