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Gensan Punch

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Gensan Punch
Promotional poster
Directed byBrillante Mendoza
Written byHoneylyn Joy Alipio
Produced by
  • Takahiro Yamashita
  • Krisma Maclang Fajardo
Starring
Production
companies
Center Stage Productions
Gentle Underground Monkeys
Distributed bySC Films International
Release date
  • October 9, 2021 (2021-10-09) (BIFF)
Running time
110 minutes[1]
CountriesPhilippines
Japan
LanguagesEnglish
Filipino
Cebuano
Japanese

Gensan Punch is a 2021 Philippine-Japanese sports biographical film directed by Brillante Mendoza. Starring Shogen, Ronnie Lazaro and Kaho Minami, it is based on a true story that depicts Nao Tsuyama, a disabled athlete who refuses to let his artificial leg hinder his dream to become a professional boxer.[2][3] It premiered at the 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on October 9, 2021.

Cast

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Production

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Gensan Punch is an internationally co-produced film made by Center Stage Productions of the Philippines and Gentle Underground Monkeys of Japan. It was directed by Brillante Mendoza.[6] This is Mendoza's first sports biographical film.[7] The film was created and written by Honey Alipio. Takahiro Yamashita and Krisma Maclang Fajardo were producers of the film.[8]

Themes and inspiration

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The film is inspired from the biography of Naozumi Tsuchiyama, a Japanese boxer with a prosthetic leg who went to the Philippines who became known as Gensan.[9] Gensan is also the nickname of General Santos, a city which has produced numerous Filipino boxers including Manny Pacquiao.[7][8][10] Tsuchiyama due to his disability was barred from pursuing a professional career in Japan by authorities due to safety reasons. He went to the Philippines and won a match in 2006 which was instrumental to him obtaining a pro boxing license. He would retire in 2015, without participating in a professional match in Japan.[9]

Mendoza had no prior knowledge of Tsuchiyama.[7] The director went to Tokyo to meet Tsuchiyama and other Japanese boxers and also went to Okinawa, the boxer's hometown.[11] The production team also went to the gymnasium in General Santos where Tsuchiyama trained and talked with the local boxers in the area as part of the production process.[7] Mendoza had an impression that Japanese boxers fight for honor and prestige, a different motivation to their Filipino counterparts.[11]

Mendoza considers his work on Gensan Punch is a deviation from his previous works he has described as "alternative cinema" and considers the film as "mainstream". For Gensan Punch he said he had to tap to his previous experience in the advertising industry where the creative process is "different, if not more rigorous" and considers more about the audience when making media – in contrast to the process in making "alternate films" where the story, rhetoric and philosophy had more weight.[12] The film did not focus on the technicalities of boxing, instead Mendoza decided to highlight Tsuchiyama's "journey as a disabled boxer".[9]

Filming

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Filming took place both Japan and the Philippines. Filming locations in Japan include Okinawa and Fukuoka.[6] Some scenes in Japan were filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic but scenes involving large crowds were taken prior to the pandemic.[11] Working with Japanese actors, Mendoza used a "non-scripted method" and the boxing bouts had no choreography.[9]

Release

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Gensan Punch premiered at the 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on October 9, 2021.[13][14] United Kingdom-based SC Films International is the distributor of the film.[6]

The film will also be released as HBO Asia original movie.[15]

Reception

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Gensan Punch was awarded the Kim Jiseok Award at the 26th Busan International Film Festival.[14]

Award and nomination

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Year Award Category Recipient/ Nominee Result Ref.
2021 26th Busan International Film Festival Kim Jiseok award Gensan Punch Won [16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "【GENSAN PUNCH 義足のボクサー（仮）】｜ 第34回東京国際映画祭（2021）". Tokyo International Film Festival. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "GENSAN PUNCH". SC Films. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Japanese boxer punches way to career in Philippines in 'Gensan Punch'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "Gensan Punch Movie Behind the Scenes Vlog |". YouTube.
  5. ^ https://www.facebook.com/Powsalud/videos/233432425479597/ [user-generated source]
  6. ^ a b c "UK distributor buys rights to new Brillante Mendoza movie 'Gensan Punch' - Report". ABS-CBN News. June 11, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Cruz, Marinel (June 16, 2020). "Brillante Ma Mendoza's 'awakening' experience while filming his 1st sports biopic". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "'Gensan Punch' wins Kim Jiseok Award in Busan film fest". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN News. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d Masangkay, May (November 17, 2021). "Japanese boxer punches way to career in Philippines in "Gensan Punch"". Kyodo News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (October 16, 2021). "Brillante Mendoza's 'Gensan Punch' wins at 26th Busan Int'l Film Festival". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Asilo, Rito (October 8, 2021). "'Gensan Punch' and 'Resbak': One-two punch from prolific Brillante Ma Mendoza". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Cruz, Marinel (October 12, 2021). "Excitement, self-doubt merge as Brillante Ma Mendoza steps out of his comfort zone". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Busan International Film Festival Features HBO Asia Originals 'Gensan Punch,' 'On the Job: The Missing 8'". www.fdcp.ph. Film Development Council of the Philippines.
  14. ^ a b Hicap, Jonathan (October 15, 2021). "Director Brillante Mendoza's 'Gensan Punch' wins at 26th Busan Int'l Film Festival". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Frater, Patrick (September 28, 2021). "Brillante Mendoza's 'Gensan Punch' Set as HBO Original Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  16. ^ Kathuria, Charvi (September 6, 2021). "Aparna Sen's 'The Rapist' Nominated For Busan's Kim Jiseok Award". She The People. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  17. ^ "Konkona-starrer 'The Rapist' wins top award at Busan film fest". IANS. Onmanorama. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
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