Who hasn't been touched by dramatic events that happen from time to time in sports Once an Olympic bronze medalist, Lee Ji-bong retires due to an injury.
After drifting around waiting tables, he finds a job coaching a varsity middle school weight lifting team in the country side.
However, Lee Ji-bong lost all his confidence when he retired from his professional sporting career, and is not in the least interested in teaching or training.
He halfheartedly sets out to recruit members for the team at prompting from the school board.
He knows better than anyone what it's like to practice an unpopular sport.
He has no plans to set the girls on such a path.
[Interview :
Park Geon-yong Director of
"Bronze Medalist" ] "I heard the story of a weightlifter who went to see her mentor with teary eyes. So I had this image in my head, while working on this film, of a girl lifting weights, her face all wet from a combination of sweat and tears".
The format of the film is pretty standard, starting out with hardships and then overcoming them through perseverance and hard training.
But more important than the victory is the story of these girls meeting a mentor and growing up.
The actors had to go through intensive training even before the cameras started rolling, even gaining 10 kilograms to match their weight.
The story comes to the audience with reality thanks to such pains in acting.
[Interview :
Park Geon-yong Director of
"Bronze Medalist" ] "There are passionate young weightlifters in Korea who are excited by the mere 10 centimeters they can lift a barbell, and these young athletes are women! I hope my audience will realize this".
The story of a teacher and his students.
This film rings true to the heart because it reminds us of values that never change.
Of the fact that diligence and honest hard work always prevail.
