A Zhi never expected to become a local star after returning to his hometown.

The former security guard won fame portraying the protagonist in the micro-drama Dali Village Superman, where his soccer team, despite losing, finds a greater meaning in the spirit of camaraderie and belonging.

The story of Dali Village Superman was inspired by China's grassroots football phenomenon, which rose to prominence in Guizhou province's Rongjiang county in 2023.

The series premiered online in July this year. Filmed in just 17 days, the 24-episode micro-drama — with each episode about six minutes long — went on to win the Annual Best Web Short Drama Award at the 21st Chinese American TV Festival in November.

In 2023, the village soccer league in Rongjiang quickly went viral for its wide participation and rich ethnic cultural elements, attracting more than 48 billion online views and boosting the local economy of a county that was once deeply impoverished.

"The Village Super League is a stage for countless people — and a stage built by them. Even ordinary individuals can chase their dreams on the pitch and find joy through sport," said Dali Village Superman director Wang Hao.

When Wang arrived in Rongjiang, he was struck by how "soccer is everywhere". Convenience stores sold soccer balls instead of snacks, and at dinner you might find yourself sitting next to the captain of a village team, he said. It gave him the sense of stepping into a real-life soccer world, where people truly take pride in playing.

The production team made several field trips to Rongjiang, visiting villages across the county, and many of the drama's characters were drawn directly from real life.

For example, the childhood friend who convinces A Zhi to stay in his hometown is based on a young village official. The official worked outside the county after graduating from university, only to later return home. He also plays a key role on the local soccer team and famously scored using a bicycle kick in the first Village Super League Cup.

The actor portraying the village team's coach, nicknamed "Little Morning Sun", is the real-life captain of a local primary school girls' soccer team.

"I'm not trying to tell a story about soccer matches or competition," Wang said. "I want to tell a story about the people who play soccer and the charm they bring to the sport."

The drama deliberately avoids the typical "victory" narratives of micro-drama series. For the villagers, the joy of playing football matters more than winning. When A Zhi struggled to keep up with the team's training, his teammates would say, "I'll go down the mountain with you, not up it."

Dali Village Superman was produced under the guidance of the National Radio and Television Administration's policy initiative "Travel Through Micro-dramas", which aims to showcase the local customs and scenery of Rongjiang.

Wang began working on the project last year. He said that whatever elements are added, micro-dramas are a valuable emerging format that can play a positive guiding role in the internet age.

Luo Jiaojiao, a lecturer at Beijing Sport University, conducted field research during the Village Super League last summer. Noting that some local media are already producing similar content, she believes involving more audiences in micro-drama production could further boost the impact of local sports events.

The series features David Geary, a British-born, Guizhou-raised soccer coach at Guizhou University, who told China Culture Daily that micro-dramas showcasing ethnic minority cultures can help international audiences better understand rural China.

Wang said he plans to continue producing sports-themed micro-dramas. Through sport, he hopes to encourage people to put down their phones and reconnect with the world around them.

China Daily