Into the Shaolin

Hongyun Sun / 2023 / 91min / China

Where Kung Fu meets spirituality.

Director Sun’s film showcases life in the Shaolin Monastery, the birthplace of Chinese Chan and Kung Fu. She follows several monks and a Serbian Ph.D. candidate conducting fieldwork to explore the philosophy of peace and enlightenment through martial arts. It depicts their daily routines of meditation and martial arts practice, as well as their challenges outside the temple. Despite performing martial arts globally, they lack practical skills for dignified jobs beyond the temple. The film portrays the realities of their lives and unwavering commitment to their chosen path, featuring ordinary mortals instead of Kung Fu heroes or Saint Monks.