Invisible Wings


Invisible Wings is a 2007 Chinese film directed by Feng Zhenzhi and starring the amputee Lei Qingyao.

Plot

A teenage girl, Zhi Hua, loses both her arms to an electric shock while recovering a kite from the electric wires. Distraught, she attempts to end her life but eventually finds a new will to live. She goes on to train her feet to do everything, such as writing, cooking, changing clothes and even making kites. She aspires to become a doctor but is denied admission and this makes her even more determined. She begins to train to become a swimming champion, beating all Olympic-level participants. She eventually goes on to become a national champion in swimming.

Reception

The film has mainly screened at speciality festivals, such as the International Children's Film Festival held in Hyderabad, where it won the Golden Elephant award for best film. It has also been released more widely in several markets, including southern India where it was translated into Telugu. In China, the film was well received, and Qingyao was awarded the Best New Artist Huabiao award for her performance and Best Newcomer Hundred Flowers Awards.