Sparring

This film is for me a a sort of French FAT CITY. Remember the John Huston's movie from 1972, about losers in the fighting game and starring Stacy Keach. And a particular short scene in the beginning of both features can make you think about the link between the two movies; the sequence where the main lead urinate blood in the toilet. Yes that's a movie dedicated to those hundreds of shadow prize fighters who have sometimes dozens of defeats and nearly none victory in their honour list. A movie, this French one, so poignant, moving, cruel, painful. But certainly not totally hopeless. The tale of a tenth grade fighter who struggles to survive with his family and who accepts to serve as a sparring Partner. Terrific.

This movie portraits Steve's (Mathieu Kassovitz) professional drama. Steve is an aging father, husband and boxer with much more losses than wins. He's hired to be a training fighter of a famous and talented boxer. Over the course of this professional challenge, Steve shows his value as an experiencied, although loser, boxer fighter.

Although this is something unexpected to say about a boxing movie, this is a very delicate one, hard to be labeled in a genre, but something between a drama and a dramatic comedy. An ageing boxer, with embarassingly little money and a family he loves (and that loves him), needs to keep fighting. However, he is what is called a "journeyman", with a far from promising record (much more losses than victories). As a sparring of a champ things will become better, or it is just a desperate move?

What a sad movie, it's about dreams and failures, unfortunately failure presents itself to many who can't fulfill the dream of working in a profession they've always dreamed of, often it's not just a matter of having the gift, but also having the opportunity, or luck, or chance, or who knows fate, something that didn't happen in these people's lives, a beautiful, poetic and sad movie... But also having the opportunity, or luck, or chance, or who knows fate, something that didn't happen in these people's lives, a beautiful, poetic and sad movie... A beautiful, poetic and sad movie... Very good and sad...

But still standing tall. This is not your flashy "Rocky" movie, something you should be aware from the start. And I'm not saying that one is better than the other. I'm just pointing out that you should not expect this to be a "winner" (or maybe it is?). Certain things are in the eye of the beholder. In this case you have a man who has failed more than once, but still keeps fighting and going on.

You could see that as a symbol or parabel connected to real life. Some may feel the movie is too slow. And that feeling is not "wrong". Like it or not, the movie gives you the silent moments. Gives you character moments and breathes quite a lot. Which is almost ironic when you thnk about the main character and his "breathing" or sometimes issues to catch a breath, especially while fighting or sparring.

Not for everyone as is evident by one reviewer here, but those who cherish it, will find a lot to love about this... almost a love letter to humans in general and their strong will - no matter how qualified or talented they are