Acclaimed actress Gigi Leung (梁詠琪) and rising star Peter Chan (陳湛文) are celebrating the positive momentum ahead of the theatrical release of their new family-oriented film, One Second Champion (逆轉上半場), hitting screens tomorrow, January 25. Both actors, who are parents themselves, expressed enthusiasm and high hopes for the movie, believing its universally appealing theme and strong early reviews will translate into significant box office success while resonating deeply with families.
Leung and Chan unanimously reported that working on the project brought immense personal satisfaction, recognizing its potential to bridge demographic gaps and, significantly, strengthen parent-child communication. The release date comes amid palpable excitement from both the leads, who feel the film’s narrative—focused on overcoming challenges and familial support—is perfectly timed.
Connecting Across Generations Through Cinema
Leung shared a heartwarming anecdote about testing the film’s appeal on a younger audience. She invited child actors from her previous show, The Reverse Startup Alliance, to a screening. “They were absolutely thrilled and promised to recommend it widely to other children and parents,” she revealed. Critically, the film secured a major fan in Leung’s own household: her husband and 10-year-old daughter, Sofia. “My daughter declared it her favorite work of mine among everything I’ve done,” Leung stated proudly.
Chan, a father to a 4-year-old girl, joked about competition for his daughter’s attention, admitting she had recently become enamored with actor Locker Lam (林家熙). He recounted his daughter asking if Lam was in the film, leading to lighthearted teasing about her having a “rivalry” with actress Marf. “Fortunately, she watched the movie and still recognized me and Auntie Gigi in the end,” Chan quipped, successfully reclaiming some parental credit. Leung kindly reassured him, suggesting that the underlying bond means his daughter still deeply cherishes her father.
The film’s exploration of dreams and supportive parenting mirrors the actors’ real-life approaches. Leung offered a glimpse into Sofia’s burgeoning interests, noting her intense dedication to learning K-pop dance routines and memorizing Korean girl group lineups—a focus she humorously admitted was more disciplined than her multiplication tables.
Navigating Dreams and Modern Parenting
Leung emphasized her commitment to an open-minded parenting philosophy. Rather than curtailing Sofia’s passion for singing and dancing, she encourages exploration. “I won’t discourage her purely because traditional pathways seem restrictive,” Leung explained. “Instead, I allow her the freedom to decide if an activity suits her, while gently reminding her that professional success often relies on opportunity, time, and fate—the focus should be on enjoying the journey and her childhood.”
Chan, whose daughter is younger, echoed this sentiment, focusing on holistic development over intense academic pressure. He and his wife are prioritizing classes in dance, art, and physical fitness. “I feel I am still learning my role as a father,” Chan confessed, noting the challenge of shifting outdated educational paradigms to find the best path for his daughter’s schooling.
Leung, offering practical advice, underscored the critical importance of parental presence and encouragement in a child’s development, even offering to help Chan leverage his own talents to train his daughter’s interviewing finesse.
The collaborative spirit extended to the young ensemble cast. Chan joked that his “big kid” personality fostered easy rapport with the child actors, even allowing him to engage in banter about youth trends and dating. Leung highlighted the striking duality of young actress Chou Chi-yu (周祇月), a current representative for the Hong Kong Women’s Football Team. Though initially shy during dialogue scenes, Chou blossomed into fierce confidence and focus whenever she was on the football pitch, demonstrating the power of passion in building self-assurance.
One Second Champion promises not only entertainment but also a meaningful dialogue starter for families navigating the joys and challenges of supporting their children’s aspirations in a rapidly changing world.
