★★★1/2

Gifted with the ability to see one second into the future, Tin Yan (Endy Chow) was once a child celebrity showcased for his unique talents. Now, as an adult, he finds himself a single father struggling to make ends meet. After fighting off some debt collectors, a boxing promoter, who observed the altercation, approaches Tin Yan about putting his “gift” to work in the ring.

An inspirational boxing movie may seem a curious offering in 2022, with all we know about concussion protocols and CTE, but One Second Champion is a rather irresistible story which steps beyond its sci-fi/sports underdog status to make some insightful comments on living a life on one’s own terms and maximizing opportunities when they present themselves. Not everything works, and the “gift” is rather impractical, but director Chiu San-Hang keeps things moving and engaging in this crowd-pleasing surprise.

One Second Champion was screened as part of the 48th Seattle International Film Festival.