Fist & Faith

Fist & Faith

Year: 2017

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Chinese

Director: Jiang Zhuoyuan

DramaAction

In 1930s China, following the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, a group of high school boys struggles to adjust to a changed reality. Their lives are altered further when a new teacher arrives at Cheonghwa school, bringing unexpected changes and challenges to their community.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Fist & Faith (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Fist & Faith (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The events unfold in contemporary times, reflecting modern school dynamics and the ubiquity of smartphones. The narrative centers on a single chaotic day at the end of the academic year, driven by rumors of downsizing and funding pressures. The timeframe emphasizes the immediacy of personal and institutional struggles, rather than a distant era.

Location

Public high school campus

The story unfolds on a public high school campus, primarily in classrooms, the guidance office, and the parking lot. The last day before summer break becomes a stage for pranks, panic, and rapid shifts in mood. The school environment is portrayed as a pressure cooker where budget concerns and policy decisions collide with students' and teachers' lives.

🏫 School 🧭 Contemporary setting 🏟️ Urban campus

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:59

Main Characters – Fist & Faith (2017)

Meet the key characters of Fist & Faith (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Andy Campbell

An anxious but principled English teacher who must balance his family pressures with an escalating crisis at school. He confronts ethical dilemmas, strives to protect his colleague, and ultimately stands up for what he believes is best for the students and the institution.

👨‍🏫 Teacher 🧭 Ethical Dilemma 🍼 Family

Ron Strickland

A proud, hot-tempered history teacher who loses and regains his job in the aftermath of the chaotic day. His rivalry with Campbell evolves into a wary respect as he confronts the consequences of his actions.

🎓 Authority 💥 Rivalry 🤝 Unexpected Ally

Principal Tyler

A no-nonsense administrator who wields the threat of firing staff to enforce order. He embodies the pressures of budget cuts and policy enforcement and is pivotal in the path to reinstating or terminating teachers.

🏛️ Administration 📉 Budget ⚖️ Policy

Holly

The school counselor who pushes the adults to address their issues, often manipulating the situation to drive the day forward. She serves as a catalyst, revealing cracks in the system while remaining a steady, if controversial, voice.

🗣️ Counseling 🃏 Manipulation

Coach Crawford

The athletic coach who gets pulled into the day's chaos and even appears in a post-credits moment of levity. He represents the everyday figures who help keep the school running amid turmoil.

🏃‍♂️ Coach 😂 Comic Relief

Maggie Campbell

Campbell’s pregnant wife, whose situation adds personal stakes to the teacher’s already heavy burden. Her presence anchors the theme of family responsibility amid professional chaos.

🤰 Expecting 👪 Family

Ally Campbell

Campbell and Maggie’s daughter, whose talent show performance provides a turning point that motivates Campbell to challenge the status quo and fight for better conditions.

🎤 Talent 👧 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:59

Major Themes – Fist & Faith (2017)

Explore the central themes of Fist & Faith (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Accountability

The film probes how truth and responsibility ripple through teachers, administrators, and students. Campbell and Strickland’s choices trigger a chain of consequences that reveal the fragility of authority. The plot culminates in questions about how schools are funded and managed, and who bears the consequences when plans go awry.

🧨 Chaos

A prank spirals into a full-blown school crisis, forcing everyone to improvise under pressure. The stress of potential firings, a tense courtroom of sorts, and escalating missteps create a volatile environment. The chaos tests loyalties and reveals who can adapt when plans collapse.

🤝 Reconciliation

Despite deep conflict, Campbell and Strickland form an uneasy alliance that helps them survive the day and rethink their roles. The confrontation evolves into a shared resolve to advocate for better conditions and support for the school. In the end, their collaboration hints at broader reforms sparked by the day’s events.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:59

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Tense workplace survival dramas like Fist & Faith

Personal integrity and desperate measures collide in a high-stakes professional battleground.If you enjoyed the high-stakes professional conflict in Fist & Faith, this thread features movies about individuals fighting for their careers and integrity against institutional chaos. Find similar stories of workplace feuds, desperate measures, and tense survival in challenging professional settings.

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They share a tense, high-intensity atmosphere driven by professional jeopardy, fast-paced escalation of conflict, and a focus on personal integrity versus institutional failure. The emotional core revolves around frustration turning into determined survival.

Cathartic journeys from chaos to hope like Fist & Faith

Stories where intense conflict and moral struggle lead to a hard-won, hopeful resolution.For viewers who appreciated Fist & Faith's intense buildup culminating in a hopeful resolution, this thread collects movies where chaotic conflicts and personal struggles lead to cathartic, positive endings. Discover similar stories that balance high tension with ultimately uplifting conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist navigating a series of escalating, chaotic challenges that test their resolve. Despite the high intensity and tense atmosphere, the story arc bends toward redemption and positive change, providing emotional release and a sense of hard-earned victory.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared emotional trajectory: starting with high-tension chaos and frustration, building through determined struggle, and resolving in a hopeful, cathartic ending that validates the protagonist's journey.

Unlock the Full Story of Fist & Faith

Don't stop at just watching — explore Fist & Faith in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Fist & Faith is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Fist & Faith Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Fist & Faith, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Fist & Faith Summary

Fist & Faith Timeline

Track the full timeline of Fist & Faith with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Fist & Faith Timeline

Fist & Faith Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Fist & Faith that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Fist & Faith Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Fist & Faith

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Fist & Faith: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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