Jump! Boys (翻滾吧!!男孩)
Director:
Lin Yu-Hsien
Genre:
Documentary
Time:
85 min.
Language:
Mandarin, English subtitles
Rating:
4/5
Prepare to laugh a lot when you see Jump! Boys, a light-hearted documentary on the experiences of a youth gymnastics team. Watch how a group of children cry, laugh, and train with their coach who’s hard on the outside but soft on the inside. There’s a lot of silliness as well as inspiration throughout the film. Also prepare to be amazed by the acrobatic skills and flexibility of these kids.
From the back cover…
These little boys come from different families and have unique characters and temperaments. They don’t play computer games or hang out at McDonald’s. Instead, they go straight to the gymnasium after school, which is a bout the only thing they have in common. The training is painstaking, yet they never quit. Are these kids out of their minds?
This is not a traditional or critical documentary film, as it portrays its story in a humorous and cheerful manner. The coach has to act like both a tough father and a loving mother to his students. From the coach’s own experiences with gymnastics, the audience can gain an understanding of Taiwan’s physical education environment as well.
幾位來自不同家庭的小男孩，有著截然不同的個性與脾氣，唯一的共同點是下課後，不打電動不去麥當勞，直奔體操訓練場。「再苦也要練下去，哭完繼續練下去，生完氣繼續練下去，摔倒爬起來再繼續練下去，再痛也要練下去…」難道，這些小朋友瘋了嗎？
跳脫沉重批判式的傳統紀錄片，本片在熱鬧無比的流暢節奏中，呈現輕鬆幽默的影像觀察，從教練對小朋友嚴父兼慈母的關愛、教練自己的心路歷程，點出對國內體育養成環境的省思。
