The Real Shaolin

The ancient rituals of Shaolin monks and their practice of Kung Fu have been widely exaggerated, if not misportrayed, in film and media. The Real Shaolin is a refreshing departure from the fiction as it deconstructs the myth of Shaolin by chronicling the experience of actual students who train and learn in the rural town of Central China, home to the modern day Shaolin Temple.

Filmmaker Alexander Sebastien Lee, who prepared for this project by training at Shaolin for several months himself, focuses on the intimate stories of four martial artists without emphasizing the flash and flair of their prowess in Chinese martial arts. Interviews with these students give us insight into their reasons for coming to Shaolin and the personal goals they hope to accomplish. This documentary strips away the idealized romanticism surrounding Shaolin Kung Fu by poignantly showing how reality can collide with the dreams of these students.
—Christian Oh





Preceded by:

Three minutes of the best animated B-boy battle between two kids who demonstrate that life is not limited by disability, but passion and respect for the dance.