From Italian literature to Chinese cinema: Dignity beyond the ring

Chinese director Li Xiaofeng's latest feature film Shadow is now showing in cinemas across China. Adapted from Pugni, a short story collection by Italian writer Pietro Grossi, the film reimagines one of its stories within a Chinese social context, using boxing as a lens to explore dignity, equality and opportunity.

In an interview with CGTN's Zhang Meng, Li reflects on his first encounter with Grossi's writing, recalling how he was deeply moved by the original ending – a quiet act of generosity between two young competitors. That moment, he says, became the emotional core of his adaptation.

Set against contemporary Chinese society, Shadow follows two boys from vastly different backgrounds whose lives intersect in the boxing ring. When the match is over and the outcome decided, winning and losing no longer matter. What remains is a shared belief in dignity and equal opportunity – values that transcend class, origin and circumstance.

For Li, this belief has remained a constant throughout his work: that everyone deserves a fair chance to realize their potential. It is a conviction he hopes this film will pass on to its audience.