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James Marsh

3.5/5 stars
A female boxer faces challenges both in and outside the ring in the feature debut from Taiwanese director Lee Yi-shan. Anchored by a stand-out central performance from newcomer Lin Yi-ting, A Dance with Rainbows weaves deftly between sports drama and a heartfelt coming-of-age story.
The film debuted at the 2025 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival in a slightly longer version, before playing at both the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the New York Asian Film Festival in its current, leaner form this year.
The film’s protagonist, Chen Chia-ling (Lin), or simply Ling, shares her name with the subject of Lee’s 2007 documentary short, Knockout. While that short followed a young athlete taking part in a world-class boxing competition, the narrative arc in Lee’s fictional feature is considerably more challenging than that of a conventional sporting tournament.


Ling’s home life is far from settled. Her mother (Lotus Wang) makes ends meet by selling lunchboxes, while her father (Yu An-shun) philanders brazenly with his glamorous young “business partner” (Lee Chien-na) and her younger brother (Justin Tien) is routinely belittled at the gym where he plays table tennis.
Ling finds an outlet for her frustrations in the boxing ring, under the guidance of her tough, no-nonsense trainer, Papa Tai (Tsai Chen-nan). To some degree, Tai assumes the role of a father figure, but he operates with a compromised moral compass, frequently asking Ling and his other fighters to take a fall in rigged bouts for extra cash.
Keeping Ling on an even keel is her unwavering dedication to the sport. Even as her family falls apart, the structure and discipline of the sweet science give her life a modicum of focus.
A Dance with Rainbows lacks traditional narrative urgency. No great stakes are hanging in the balance, nor is there a coveted trophy or title to be contested. The film exists in the minutiae of Ling’s situation and her evolving relationships with those around her. Nevertheless, the drama remains engaging thanks to the calm, understated determination of its heroine.

Lin’s performance goes beyond an impressive physical transformation. While she convincingly embodies a rising pugilist, it is how she processes and responds to the changes around her – with a smouldering, internalised resolve rather than hysterical outbursts – that truly draws us in.
Lee complements her lead actress with assured, unassuming photography that captures the action in unbroken, handheld takes that showcase the performers’ efforts, resulting in a quietly compelling debut from both a star and a filmmaker on the rise.
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Director Lee Yi-shan delivers a quietly powerful Taiwanese sports drama in A Dance with Rainbows, starring Lin Yi-ting


Director Lee Yi-shan delivers a quietly powerful Taiwanese sports drama in A Dance with Rainbows, starring Lin Yi-ting.


Chinese language cinema

Asian cinema

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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Director Lee Yi-shan delivers a quietly powerful Taiwanese sports drama in A Dance with Rainbows, starring Lin Yi-ting

Director Lee Yi-shan delivers a quietly powerful Taiwanese sports drama in A Dance with Rainbows, starring Lin Yi-ting