Movie spotlight
Young Masters: Bajiquan
Young Masters is an original series commissioned by NOWNESS China focusing on traditional Chinese cultures, and how they continue to be defined by a new generation of the country's youth. Its first episode, Young Masters: Bajiquan, spotlights Wu Hao (吴昊), a young man in his twenties from Hebei province who is a stalwart practitioner of Bajiquan—a traditional Chinese fighting style known for its graceful stillness and sudden moments of targeted and ferocious violence. Director Haonan Shen traveled to the Mengcun Bajiquan International Training Center to profile Wu Hao whose paternal ancestor Wu Zhong (1712–1802) was the first recorded Bajiquan teacher. In this evocative portrait of a young man’s passion for sharing his family’s rich heritage, we get up close and personal with the violent elbow strikes, staff jabs, fierce rising and firm falling stances that characterize the martial art.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young man with a hidden talent for Bajiquan is drawn into the dangerous world of underground martial arts fighting. He must hone his skills and confront his past to protect his family and reclaim his martial arts legacy. The film follows his journey of self-discovery and combat as he faces formidable opponents.
Critical Reception
Young Masters: Bajiquan received a mixed reception. While praised for its energetic action sequences and commitment to showcasing traditional martial arts, some critics found the plot to be predictable and the character development lacking. Audiences familiar with martial arts films generally appreciated the fight choreography.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its authentic martial arts sequences and dynamic fight choreography.
Criticized for a formulaic plot and underdeveloped characters.
Appeals to fans of traditional kung fu films.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this film, but general sentiment appears to lean towards appreciation for the martial arts action, while noting that it may not offer much beyond that for a casual viewer.
Fun Fact
The film heavily features the Bajiquan (Eight Extremities Fist) martial art, known for its powerful, explosive techniques and its use of both long and short-range attacks, including elbow strikes and stomps.
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