Step Back to Glory (2013)

• Native Title: 志氣

Most sports involve dashing forward for victory, but tug-of-war requires players take a step back to win. For the girls’ tug-of-war team of Jingmei Girls High School, that one crucial step back gave them the victory of a lifetime. Based on a true story, Step Back to Glory is an inspiring story about the Jingmei girls’ arduous journey from underdog to becoming a championship team. To stay true to the real story, the filmmakers intentionally chose members of the Jingmei High School tug-of-war team to play themselves. The sole exception is young idol Yao Yao (a.k.a. Kuo Shu Yao), who shows her own growth as an actress with her first film lead role here, playing a student from the countryside determined to prove her worth in the team. Even director Chang Bo Rui had to walk a tough road to get Step Back to Glory made, giving up a comfortable production consultant job to bring the girls’ story to the big screen.