Lifting King Kong (2009)

Weightlifting. Female underdog weightlifters. This isn't what leads to the kind of mega hit people enjoy. Thanks to a strong script and a very good cast, this based-on-a-true-story film worked for me.

Lee Bum-Soo did another fantastic job as injured former bronze medalist Lee Ji-Bom who lands a coaching job at a girls' school. We're introduced to Lee's team after we watch how the vice-principal gets the girls to take part in the sport. Each of the girls is an 'outcast' in some way, and as the story progresses, the viewer is shown how each girl comes to support her teammates & develops as an athlete.

I cheered for the team and each girl's personal journey. I cried and then I felt good for watching.

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A word of warning. This is purported to be based on a true story, but upon further research I discovered that it is not, in fact, a true story. A lot of this stuff was made up. That being said...I absolutely loved this movie. This is the stuff filmmaker's dreams are made of. I loved the coach with his gruff exterior and tender heart. I loved the cinematography and the setting. I loved all of the girls who were like my childhood come to life. (Awkward, unpopular, weird, lonely, insecure. I just wanted to wrap them up in my arms and tell them 'It gets better.') I loved it all, and I even shed quite a few tears as I watched the story unfold.

Watch it for the heartwarming feelings, not for the historical accuracy.

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