Underplayed Gems

Ping Pong (2002)

Ping Pong poster
Original title
ピンポン
Directed by
Fumihiko Sori
Genre
sport film
Country
Japan
Runtime
1h 54m
Rated
PG
Rating
7.1 of 10 from 62 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

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How it feels

A high school table tennis player trains hard with his best friend, who is a natural but unmotivated talent. The film follows their friendships and rivalries through tournaments, each character bringing a different approach to the sport.

energeticintrospectivecompetitivefocusedplayfulemotionalearnest

What happens

Ping Pong (Japanese: ピンポン, Hepburn: Pin Pon) is a 2002 Japanese sports film directed by Fumihiko Sori, and starring Yōsuke Kubozuka, Arata Iura, Nakamura Shidō II, and Sam Lee. It is based on Taiyō Matsumoto's manga series of the same name and is about the friendship between two high school table tennis players. The film concentrates on these two friends, their two mentors, and three players who they encounter at high school table tennis tournaments. It explores the different motivations and philosophies that they have towards table tennis and tries to portray the excitement and subtlety of the sport. Nakamura won the Newcomer of the Year Award at the 26th Japan Academy Film Prizes for his performance. The film was nominated in seven other categories, including for Picture of the Year and Director of the Year. A 4K restoration and Blu-ray edition is set to be released by 88 Films on July 27, 2026. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

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