14-year-oldJimmy(playedbyTyrellWilliams)practiceskungfu.Fortheliondance,whichisperformedoutonthestreets,heisdeterminedtoholdtheheadofthelion.Butwhenhisteacher,thesifu,announcesthenewcrew,hisdreamcomescrashingdown.Hehastomakedowiththetailend,whilethetalentednewcomerLiJié(HayeLee)isgiventhecovetedplace.Jimmydoesallhecantobecomenumberoneandearnhisplaceupfrontwiththehead.Butthismeanshehastodefeatanumberofannoyingbullies,convincethesifuofhisqualitiesand,especially,overcomehimself.Williams,aformerDutchkaratechampionandLee,akungfupractitioner,jumpandkickintheirfirstfeaturefilm.Kungfuleeuwisanexcitingfilmforyoungpeopleaboutthechallengesofgrowingup–whichareeasiertofacewhenyou’rearmedwiththewisdomofthemartialarts.FilmmakerFroukjeTanusesRotterdamasthebackdropfortheliondance,highlightingthelessobvioustraditionsofthecity.Previously,FroukjeTanmadethefeaturefilmsSwchwrm(2012)andLinks(2008),andtheshortHetjongetjedatniemandverstond(2002).
