Dante Lam steering in the right direction [Review]
Even if you don't love cycling, you'll still be drawn in by the excitement and danger of To the Fore.
Crime thriller director Dante Lam Chiu-yin's second sports film is gripping, humorous and hot-blooded at the same time, showing the teamwork, strategy and perseverance required to be a successful racer.
Ming (Eddie Peng Yu-yan) and Tian (Shawn Dou Xiao) are "support" riders for Ji-won (Choi Siwon). Their job is to stay in front for hours to shield the sprinter from the elements and block other competitors before Ji-won breaks out in the final kilometres.
Cocky and confident, Ming is a risk-taker and soon becomes a sprinter himself, while nothing seems to be going right for Tian in both racing and romance.
With races taking place in locations including Kaohsiung, Shanghai and the Tengger Desert, there's no shortage of beautiful sights in the film.
Lam makes a point of showing the darker side of the sport too. A good foe is just as important as a good teammate, and a race without a fierce opponent would be pointless.
Though some scenes are a tad overdramatic, and the romantic storyline is dragged out , To the Fore will not be a wasted watch for anyone who's worked hard to chase their dreams.