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Beautifully acted by a young cast, this first feature from Welby Ings is a delicately balanced combination of compelling boxing movie and touching teenage drama

A promising teenage boxer in a claustrophobic small town discovers his sexuality when he falls in love with the only openly gay kid in high school. It sounds like the biggest film cliche ever, but New Zealand film-maker Welby Ings does something subtle and tender with this in his sensitive feature debut. It’s a delicate film with a pair of lovely, natural-feeling performances from its two leads.

Jordan Oosterhof is Jim, a boxer growing up in a seaside town in New Zealand where homophobia is alive and kicking: “faggot” is a routine term of abuse. Jim is gearing up for his first ever professional fight, trained by his English dad, alcoholic ex-boxer Stan. Jim hangs about with the sports bros, but he’s also a budding photographer.

"How does it happen? That we become something that we're not?" Peccadillo Pictures has debuted a second official trailer for the indie film Punch from New Zealand, a boxing drama made by filmmaker Welby Ings. This premiered at a few festivals last year, and already opened on VOD in March earlier in the year – this is an extra UK trailer for its release this fall. Jordan Oosterhof stars as Jim, a young boxer preparing for his first professional fight. He begins to rethink his life and his sexuality after tangling with Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his days in an old shack down by the beach that he built entirely himself. The two are forced to navigate isolation, homophobia, and the brutality of small-town life. As Jim discovers what it means to be gay, he realizes how little strength is connected to heroism. The film also stars Tim Roth,...

The sports drama genre is getting a heartfelt twist in Punch. The film, hailing from debuting writer-director Welby Ings, revolves around an up-and-coming teenage boxer who struggles to balance living under his alcoholic father and learning more of his own sexuality with the help of a male classmate, who also is looking to break free from their small New Zealand town.

Jordan Oosterhof leads the cast of Punch alongside Tim Roth, Conan Hayes, Abigail Laurent, Connor Johnston, Sage Klein, and Wilson Downes. Quickly deviating from its sports genre base towards a more emotional coming-of-age tale of legacy and embracing one's own self, the film is a powerfully acted and honestly told affair.

Related: 10 Best Tim Roth Films, According to IMDb

Ahead of the film's premiere, Screen Rant spoke exclusively with stars Jordan Oosterhof and Tim Roth to discuss Punch, loving Ings' honest script, developing a rapport with one another and Hayes,...

Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive clip from Punch, a new film starring Jordan Oosterhof, Conan Hayes, and Tim Roth. Written and directed by Welby Ings in his directorial debut, Punch follows teenage boxer Jim (Oosterhof) as he is metaphorically crushed by the weight of his alcoholic and demanding father Stan. His world changes for the better, however, when he meets a Māori boy named Whetu (Hayes).

Of course, their blossoming romance isn't always rose-colored. Punch deals with topics such as isolation and homophobia, in addition to substance abuse, and Jim must learn much more than physical strength in order to overcome his circumstances and thrive. But on the other hand, Stan is not entirely an ogre either, and his son's coming-of-age story will help him grow as well.

Related: 10 Best LGBTQ+ Couples In Teen Movies

More About Punch

In Screen Rant's exclusive clip from Punch, Jim and...

Punch is a coming-of-age drama directed by New Zealander Welby Ings and stars Tim Roth, newcomer Jordan Oosterhaf, and former professional surfer Conan Hayes.

Jim is a young but focused professional fighter and at just seventeen years old, wants nothing more than to make his demanding father proud. With his life on track for success, Jim meets Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his time in an old shack by the beach. Despite his dedication and self confidence, after meeting Whetu, Jim must confront the truth about his own sexuality and his choices.

The Star: Tim Roth Tim Roth. Depostiphotos

Tim Roth is an English actor, director and producer who has had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He first rose to prominence with his performance as Tim ‘Fool’ Condon in the 1985 film The Hit. Since then Tim has gone on to appear in numerous leading roles in films such as Reservoir Dogs,...

Darkstar Pictures has released a trailer for the Lgtbq sports drama ‘Punch’ featuring Tim Roth.

Jim is a promising teenage boxer, training under the watch of his demanding and alcoholic father. When Jim develops a relationship with a male classmate, the two are forced to navigate isolation, homophobia, and the brutality of small-town life. As Jim discovers what it means to be gay, he realizes how little strength has to do with heroism.

Written and Directed By Welby Ings, the film stars Tim Roth, Jordan Oosterhof, Conan Hayes.

Also in trailers – Kevin Hart stars in trailer for Die Hart

The film hits U.S. cinemas On Digital and On Demand – on March 10, 2023, and On DVD– April 11, 2023

The post Tim Roth stars in trailer for sports drama ‘Punch’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

"I keep the world at a distance." Dark Star Pictures has unveiled the US trailer for a New Zealand indie sports film titled Punch, a boxing drama from filmmaker Welby Ings. This premiered at a few festivals last year, and is arriving in the US on VOD and in theaters in March. Jordan Oosterhof stars as Jim, a young boxer preparing for his first professional fight. He begins to rethink his life and his sexuality after tangling with Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his days in an old shack down by the beach. The two are forced to navigate isolation, homophobia, and the brutality of small-town life. As Jim discovers what it means to be gay, he realizes how little strength is connected to heroism. The cast includes Tim Roth, Conan Hayes, Abigail Laurent, and Sage Klein. The film seems solid, an emotionally potent story about a young boxer.

Project is director Welby Ings’ debut feature.

The Yellow Affair has struck a deal for North American rights with Dark Star Pictures to Welby Ings’ debut feature Punch.

Other deals recently closed for the New Zealand drama include to UK & Ireland (Peccadillo), Germany and Austria (Salzgeber) and France (Outplay) with further territories in negotiation.

Punch, which stars Tim Roth, Jordan Oosterhof and Conan Hayes, recently had its international premiere in the First Feature Competition at Tallinn Black Nights.

After a North American premiere at Palm Springs International Film Festival, Dark Star is planning a theatrical release in early 2023.

Robin Murphy...

Project is director Welby Ings’ debut feature.

The Yellow Affair has struck a deal for North American rights with Dark Star Pictures to Welby Ings’ debut feature Punch.

Other deals recently closed for the New Zealand drama include to UK & Ireland (Peccadillo), Germany and Austria (Salzgeber) and France (Outplay) with further territories in negotiation.

Punch, which stars Tim Roth, Jordan Oosterhof and Conan Hayes, recently had its international premiere in the First Feature Competition at Tallinn Black Nights.

After a North American premiere at Palm Springs International Film Festival, Dark Star is planning a theatrical release in early 2023.

Robin Murphy...