Oscar night, February 27, belonged to Clint Eastwood. The former Dirty Harry star went home with four awards, including best director and best picture, for his stunning boxing film, Million Dollar Baby.

The Eastwood-directed film about a female boxer, her crusty trainer and the trainer's right-hand man, like most sports films, focused on the protagonist's pursuit of her dream and meaning in her life.

In the wake of the film's success, many critics are anticipating a whirlwind of sports flicks reminiscent of the 1976 Rocky effect. In China, many are questioning the embarrassing fact that although this country is a sports powerhouse following hard on the heels of the US, it has a decided lack of good films of this genre to display alongside its Olympic gold medals.

The overall stagnancy of the filmmaking industry has certainly hindered the development of sports films in China. Moreover, producers and directors unfamiliar with the world of sport can hardly create works with real box-office appeal.

More importantly, the poor showing of sports films stems from the shallowness of the topics and the characters.

Back in the 1930s, director Sun Yu made the highly successful The Sports Queen, starring Li Lili as a sprinter who gave up a life of luxury and decadence to resume her beloved running career.

The Sports Queen (1934)

In the years following the founding of New China in 1949, many sports films were well received, such as Player No. 5, The Swimmer, The Unfinished Chess Game, and Sha Ou. At that time, sport was closely connected with national identity and its development was a symbol of China's rejuvenation. The main characters went all out to win and most were supported by strong feelings of national pride.

But despite the other enormous changes taking place in the country following the implementation of the reform and opening policy, sports films continued to follow the same old well-beaten track. Athletes who never showed any sign of weakness overcame repeated setbacks to succeed. In contrast, the successful Hollywood sports films became metaphors for individual honor, more personal and more human.

After the 1980s, some ambitious directors began seeking to depict the competitive spirit in their celluloid heroes, with such films as The King Of Chess, Taekwondo and Black Eyes. But the spotlight was still on the athletes' achievements rather than their souls, and these films failed to evoke much response.

In watching sports events, spectators cheer with joy, groan with disappointment and marvel with wonder at the athletes who, win or lose, give their all to their sport. Only love for the game could induce them to carry on.

Eastwood said he preferred Million Dollar Baby to be regarded as a love story rather than a sports film. A true winner in this genre, like sport and life itself, must show that it is not whether you win or lose: it's how you play the game.

(China.org.cn by Li Xiao, March 9, 2005)