Thrust into a new town following his father’s death, young Jason relies on a bicycle with magical powers to get him through dark middle school times. 

SYNOPSIS:

The story opens with a reporter interviewing Jason Haverstadt (40), a school principal and former Olympic cyclist. During this interview, Haverstadt launches into his tumultuous childhood that led to his pursuit of his athletic passion.

28 years earlier, 12-year-old Jason is cycling with his father, racing him up a forest hill. The father falls behind to a point where Jason is forced to turn around and ride back down the path to find him collapsed on the ground. The father encourages a fearful Jason to ride down the hill to get help, with the intent to protect Jason from seeing him succumb to the heart attack.

Days later, a grief-torn Jason destroys his bicycle, believing he was the one who caused his father’s death; then stumbles upon his mother, Mei, and his Uncle Bill discussing his father’s hidden financial struggle. His gambling problems have just thrown Jason and his mother out of their house, forcing them to move and significantly downgrade their living situation.

In this new place – a depressed, rural spot – Jason discovers an outdated old lime-green bicycle with the word “QIANLIMA” painted in white boldly on the frame. Mei later explains that “she-on-lee-ma” refers to a mythological horse with wings and great physical capabilities. It ran so fast that no one could ever catch it or ride it.

Jason keeps putting the bike away - in a corner of the garage, under a tarp - but the bike keeps mysteriously reappearing in the center of the garage with the tarp laying on the floor.

After a rude introduction to his new (rather racist) all-White school, Jason (who is half-Chinese) returns home and works on Qianlima. He paints it blue, even covering the letters. But the letters resurface the next morning. Try as he might to cover those letters, the QIANLIMA letters keep returning.

Still plagued with bad memories of cycling, Jason powers through these emotions and begins riding the bike to school. He is often brought into an idyllic trance involving the fabled horse when riding his bike. From the scene of his father’s death to a wild-West prairie or chivalrous knight in a jousting contest, Jason imagines himself riding the lightning-quick horse through staggering new worlds to rescue his new school friend, Hollie.

Jason is challenged by the school bully, Charlie, to a race to the top of Knob Hill, the highest hill in the area. Meanwhile, Hollie invites Jason to her house where she shows him her secret “safe space”, opens up about her parents’ recent death, and shares her struggles with her Aunt and Uncle caregivers. She often retreats to this hidden basement closet to hide from their loud arguments.

At the race, Charlie cheats and wins, but Jason displays incredible capabilities. The following class, Charlie frames Jason with a stolen grade book, landing him a suspension and a rigged doctor’s appointment with an A.D.D. diagnosis and prescription for Ritalin.

A couple days later, back at school, Jason learns of a 4-person bike relay race against cancer – a perfect way to silence his bully forever. Eight teams, two laps around the HS track per person. When Jason’s final leg arrives, he’s more than 60-yards behind Charlie. Unfazed, Jason is magically transported to the Kentucky Derby, flying by the competition on Qianlima and winning the race.

Charlie offers some begrudging respect the following school day and tries to ride Qianlima. For anyone but Jason, the bike acts like it’s broken.

A few days later, when Hollie is absent from school, Jason follows a fire truck to Hollie’s house, shockingly engulfed in flames. Since Jason knows about Hollie’s “safe place”, he runs into the burning building and saves the girl’s life.

After public praise for his heroics, Jason is given a new modern bicycle by Hollie’s Aunt and Uncle, which becomes the tool Jason ultimately uses to begin his competitive cycling career.

We then return to the reporter’s interview with the older Jason. He and Hollie are married with two kids – all bike lovers. Jason is suddenly called away from the interview to investigate a situation at the bike rack – a situation Jason frequently experienced as a kid. A White boy is picking on a smaller Hispanic boy, Miguel. Jason meets with the boys in his office and learns that Miguel has no bicycle.

The following morning, Jason meets with Miguel and gives Qianlima to him, informing Miguel of the bike's special qualities.

A few weeks later, Jason again meets with Miguel and discovers that Qianlima's magical properties are still alive and active with Miguel. He informs Miguel that just as Qianlima must have liked him and helped him years ago, Qianlima must like Miguel and wants to help him, too.

This film is a family drama and fantasy, likely rated PG, and should appeal to the same audiences that enjoyed The Karate Kid (1984), Matilda (1996), and Bridge to Terabithia (2007) as related to dealing with bullying and escape through fantasy.

QIANLIMA