On August 28th, the film "Budong" held its opening ceremony in Jinjiang City, Fujian Province. Directed by Wu Feiyue and Qin Xiaoyu, and starring Deng Jiajia, the film, based on running and set against the backdrop of the Xuanzang Road Gobi Challenge, is a "modern-day inspirational story of the Xuanzang Road." The film features dozens of professional marathon runners, a collaboration between the running community and the film industry.
The opening ceremony of "Budong"
The film, centered on the spirit of Xuanzang, focuses on the beliefs and choices faced by modern people in the face of real-world challenges. Over 1,300 years ago, Master Xuanzang, upholding the belief that "I will never return east until I have reached India," braved danger and peril to complete his journey westward in search of the Dharma, achieving a transcendental journey from perseverance to transcendence. "Budong" has thus become a spiritual symbol, a constant inspiration for those who come after him. The film "Budong" is set in the present, and the characters are all based on real-life "Gobi friends" who have traversed Xuanzang's path. They come from diverse backgrounds and face unique challenges, measuring their faith with their footsteps and writing their lives with their sweat in the challenging terrain of the Gobi Desert.
The film "Budong" cleverly blends the well-known story of "Journey to the West" with the lesser-known cultural connotations of the "Xuanzang Journey." Real runners capture their figures and sweat in the film, expressing their faith in the most authentic way.
Director Wu Feiyue, who previously brought the life stories of a group of worker poets to the big screen with "My Poems," now focuses his film on another group of tenacious idealists. At the filming opening ceremony, Wu Feiyue stated, "'Bu Dong' tells the story of a group of people who, faced with adversity, didn't give up or lay down. They kept running, clinging to their original ideals. They found each other amidst the crowds, offering warmth and encouragement as they braved fate together. They may have stumbled a bit, but they never stopped. This is the origin of the film's title, 'Bu Dong,' meaning 'Until you reach India, you'll never return a single step east.'" Through "Bu Dong," and the Gobi Desert as a mirror, he hopes to ask every viewer: "What are you holding on to? When everything becomes increasingly difficult, do you persevere or give up?"
Wu Feiyue at the start-up scene
The film's lead actress, Deng Jiajia, is a runner herself, regularly completing ten kilometers, demonstrating exceptional physical fitness for an actress. Her combination of capable demeanor and warm, approachable demeanor perfectly complements the dual roles of Chen Yi, a career woman and a gentle mother. The film excites anticipation as to how she will portray this powerful and heartwarming journey.
Lead actress Deng Jiajia shared at the opening ceremony that she felt a strong sense of spiritual strength from the entire crew, and it was this energy that supported her in resolutely taking on the challenging subject of the Gobi Marathon. She will bring her passion for running and her genuine devotion to the role to tell this moving story with all her heart.
Deng Jiajia
Lead actor Gu Jiacheng, who has run the Shanghai Marathon and various cross-country races and calls himself a "heavy running enthusiast," sincerely expressed his feelings about participating in the film: "For me, this is not just a movie, but an outstanding work that will be preserved, promote running, pass on the spirit of running, and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship."
Gu Jiacheng
Special guest actor Zhang Guoqiang is not only a familiar face on TVB but also a true runner. At the ceremony, he humorously and proudly said, "I'd sell my life to run with them! For those of us who love sports, it's an honor to be part of such an inspiring sports-themed film."
Zhang Guoqiang
As a film about running, the establishment of the "Budong Running Group" was also announced at the event, with Deng Jiajia, Gu Jiacheng, and other key filmmakers becoming the first "Budong Runners." This not only symbolizes the strong alignment between the actors and the film's spirit, but also marks the official launch of the "Budong Running Group," a running organization centered on the principle of "persistence is faith," to the public.
Budong Running Group was established
The "Budong Running Group" is the film team's extension of the "Budong" spirit, hoping to bring together those who share this spirit and put their faith into practice through running. Regardless of pace or distance, the key is perseverance and forward movement. Every Budong runner is a real-life "learner," surpassing themselves through running, illuminating each other in the community, and running together to create their own "movie of life."
The film "Budong," approved for production in Shanghai and selected as a 2024-2026 Shanghai Film Award, was filmed in Quanzhou (Jinjiang, Shishi), a key city on the Maritime Silk Road, and Jiuquan (Guazhou, Dunhuang), a key node on the Overland Silk Road. The film will vividly showcase the profound cultural heritage of Quanzhou and Jinjiang, inviting audiences to "travel through the film," experiencing the lush forests and cultural relics of Zimao Mountain in Zimao Town, Jinjiang, and experiencing the blend of history and modernity. The film will also showcase the pristine landscape of Gansu's Gobi Desert, with its rolling sand dunes and low starry skies, inspiring running enthusiasts nationwide to experience the vast beauty and cultural imagery of the contemporary "Xuanzang Road."
Jinjiang start-up site
It's worth noting that to allow more audiences enamored with Gobi culture and the spirit of Xuanzang to participate in the film's creation, the filming will also feature live-action shoots in conjunction with the 20th Xuanzang Road Gobi Challenge ("Go20"). We welcome Gobi fans to visit the set, experience the filming, and even participate in the performance, joining the creative team in completing this inspirational epic, woven with the passionate spirit of the Gobi.
