Synopsis
ZHANG Weili, the first-ever Asian UFC women’s world champion, secured the UFC strawweight belt with a 42-second TKO victory over the reigning female boxing champion. She successfully defended her title against the legendary fighter Joanna. However, after two back-to-back defeats at the peak of her career, she found herself in a personal slump. Determined to reclaim her identity, she took the bold step of cutting off her long hair.
Xu Huijing
Xu Huijing was born in Shan Xi. He used to work at the TV department of the Southern Weekly, and then joined the Chinese Channel of PTV. He has been working as an independent documentary filmmaker for more than a decade. His works have won many international awards including: the Special Jury Award on the 20th Sheffield Documentary Film Festival and The Special Jury Award at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival.
Director's statement
Both ZHANG Weili and I come from rural areas. Seeing her journey feels like witnessing the embodiment of our generation’s upbringing. Children raised in rural areas witness the hardships of their elders and bear heavy responsibilities from a young age, aiming to change the fate of their families. With limited social resources, they rely on their own efforts to demonstrate their value over a decade or longer. In ZHANG Weili’s story, we see our generation’s efforts breaking through with faint hopes. Her journey inspires those who continuously strive to improve themselves and change their destiny through hard work.
