BEIJING, CHINA — A debut concept poster for the Chinese drama The First And Last Marathon is offering audiences their first visual hint at a narrative that weaves together filial duty, medical crisis, and the grueling endurance of a long-distance race. The film, which centers on a college student’s promise to run a marathon before donating part of his liver to his ailing grandmother, positions the track as a metaphor for the heavier hurdles life can throw.
Backing the project are Shanghai Yong’ergui Pictures Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Taige Film Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Yinuohe Film Co., Ltd., with distribution handled by ESK (GUANGZHOU) Film Co., LTD. Written and directed by Ren Bo, the feature stars Xuanle Lü and Zhaomei Ge in leading roles.
The plot follows Xiaohe Luo, a university student who relocates to the city with his grandmother, who is his sole remaining family member. When she falls suddenly and critically ill, requiring a liver transplant, Luo resolves to donate a portion of his own liver to keep her alive. Bolstered by support from his teachers and classmates, he makes a deeply personal vow prior to the operation: to finish the first and last marathon of his life. For Luo, the run is not merely an athletic endeavor — it serves as a means of wrestling with hard decisions, honoring his family, and proving his own strength of will.
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Producer Chen Shi highlighted the logistical complexity behind such a production. Coordinating a film of this nature goes beyond balancing budgets and call sheets, he said. The team has to be ready for the practical realities of vastly different settings — university grounds, private homes, hospital wards, and racecourses. Anticipating needs for locations, props, personnel, and continuity helps keep disruptions minimal while ensuring the production stays true to the story’s emotional core.
Director Ren Bo echoed that sentiment, noting that solid production management lays the groundwork for creative freedom. When resources, schedules, and scene-specific needs are aligned, the crew can maintain momentum while devoting more attention to character nuance and narrative depth.
The newly released poster depicts a young runner in mid-stride, with a red electrocardiogram line stretching between two outstretched hands. That visual ties the physical exertion of running to the pulse of life, the weight of family, and the sense of obligation — reinforcing the film’s central idea that a race can stand for something far greater than simply crossing a finish line.
Why it matters: This film taps into a universal tension between personal ambition and familial responsibility, framing a life-or-death medical choice as the backdrop for a physical ordeal. The concept poster suggests a visual language that equates heartbeats with footsteps, promising a drama that could resonate well beyond its domestic release.
Alex Morgan
Silver Peak Entertainment
press@silverpeakent.com
