I Am What I Am (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

I Am What I Am moves between two distinct Chinese cities: Shanghai, a bustling modern metropolis known for its skyline and vibrant culture, and Guangzhou, a city historically tied to traditional lion dancing. The contrast between the two locations reflects the tension between contemporary urban life and the preservation of traditional practices. Shanghai primarily hosts the modern martial arts competitions, while Guangzhou grounds the story in the cultural roots of lion dance.

• Shanghai
• Guangzhou
• setting
• China
• cities
• locations

The film is set in a contemporary time period, depicting modern-day China with all of its present-day concerns. Financial struggles, identity conflicts, and competitive martial arts circuits are shown as current-day realities rather than historical events. While the story leans on traditional practices like lion dance and kung fu, those traditions coexist with a modern urban world rather than belonging to a distant past.

• contemporary
• modern
• time period
• present day
• China

Gyun, voiced by Jiasi Li, is the main character of I Am What I Am. He is a determined young man who takes on the responsibility of supporting his family while pursuing his passion for martial arts and lion dance. Through his training and competitions, Gyun develops not only physical strength but also emotional resilience and a stronger sense of identity, making him the emotional center of the film.

• Gyun
• Jiasi Li
• protagonist
• main character
• family
• martial arts

Lion dance serves as the symbolic backbone of I Am What I Am. The protagonist forms a lion dance troupe with his friends as a way to push back against the limitations of their everyday lives. Their performances become a form of self-expression, allowing the characters to assert their individuality and challenge the constraints imposed on them by financial pressure, social expectations, and a competitive martial arts world.

• lion dance
• troupe
• tradition
• identity
• self-expression
• cultural heritage

Xiaoyu is one of the key characters in the film, portrayed as compassionate, resourceful, and brave. She is deeply invested in supporting her friends and protecting their shared community, including their school. Her independence and quick thinking make her a driving force when the group faces difficult decisions, conflicts, or outside threats.

• Xiaoyu
• friend
• school
• brave
• resourceful
• supporting character

Master Zhang functions as Gyun's martial arts mentor, embodying the wisdom and tradition of kung fu. He is committed to training his students and to preserving the discipline and values of traditional Chinese martial arts. His presence anchors the film in lineage and cultural inheritance, highlighting the theme of passing knowledge from one generation to the next.

• Master Zhang
• mentor
• kung fu
• tradition
• teacher
• martial arts master

I Am What I Am explores several interconnected themes: the physical and emotional discipline of martial arts, the strength found in friendship, and the resilience required to push through personal and financial setbacks. Together, these themes illustrate how dedication and solidarity can help ordinary people rise above difficult circumstances and claim their own identity.

• themes
• martial arts
• friendship
• resilience
• identity
• perseverance

Friendship is presented as a form of survival in I Am What I Am. Gyun and his companions lean on each other through financial hardship, public humiliation, and the pressures of competition. The bond between them provides both emotional encouragement and practical strength, allowing them to keep fighting in situations where individual effort alone would not be enough.

• friendship
• bonds
• companions
• support
• solidarity
• teamwork

Resilience in I Am What I Am is demonstrated through repeated setbacks rather than a single hardship. Characters face job loss, financial ruin, public slander, and family struggles, yet they continue training, competing, and pushing forward. The theme illustrates that real growth often comes from enduring failure and choosing to fight for one's own future rather than giving in to circumstances.

• resilience
• perseverance
• setbacks
• hardship
• struggle
• determination

The title 'I Am What I Am' reflects the film's central message about identity and self-acceptance. It echoes the idea that the characters do not need to conform to outside expectations in order to claim their place in the world. Their lion dance performances and martial arts journeys become declarations of who they truly are, regardless of social or financial limits placed on them.

• title meaning
• identity
• self-acceptance
• self-expression
• I Am What I Am