The True Spirit

The story begins with the boxing lives of two urban Indigenous youths, Liu Li-Chen and Su Jing-Wen. Gifted with exceptional talent, Li-Chen won a national championship in junior high school, only to fall into confusion after entering high school—caught between boxing, academic expectations, and his Indigenous identity. As he struggles to find his path, his performance in the ring declines, dealing a heavy blow to his confidence. Jing-Wen, from the Nanjing Indigenous community in Sanxia, New Taipei City, is seen as a promising Olympic boxer of her generation. Yet deep down, she is uncertain about her future in boxing. The only reason she continues training is the weight of others’ expectations. Despite growing up in an urban Indigenous community, she finds no real sense of belonging in the city.