Never Say Never: Reproduction of Intergenerational Will and Return of Ideal—Interview with Wang Baoqiang

Abstract Wang Baoqiang is the director of Never Say Never (2023), as well as being a well-known actor. His acting roles include Blind Shaft (Mang jing, 2003), A World Without Thieves (Tianxia wuzei, 2004) and Detective Chinatown series (Tangrenjie tan’an). Following Buddies in India (Danao tianzhu, 2017), Never Say Never is, Wang Baoqiang’s second directorial work: taking six years to hone, the film is a realistic depiction of the story of Xiang Tenghui, a former boxing champion, who is determined to train orphans from China’s remote countryside. Through sports competitions, he aims to provide them with the chance for a better life. This interview is based on the actors’ performances, the director’s audiovisual expression and the pursuit of values; it discusses the film’s reproduction of intergenerational will and the protagonist’s ideal for returning to the middle-aged stage of life, offering an in-depth portrait of the multi-dimensional thinking and artistic insights of Wang Baoqiang, as an experienced actor exploring the path of film directing.