THE BOXER (1997)
A Film Review Copyright Dragan Antulov 2004
All wars, sooner or later, come to an end. This is something that filmmaking team of Jim Sheridan and Terry George realised following IN THE NAME OF FATHER and SOME MOTHER'S SON, two films about tragic consequences of Northern Ireland conflict. In 1997 drama BOXER, written by George and directed by Sheridan, they tried to explore what the peace process could bring to Catholic community and Northern Ireland in general.
Protagonist of the film is Danny Flynn (played by Daniel Day-Lewis), 32-year old former boxer who leaves British prison after spending 14 years for his involvement in IRA bombing. Although he never betrayed his comrades, Danny now doesn't want to have anything with them. Long years behind bars convinced him that he wasted best years of his life for something that didn't bring anything but misery for himself and his people. Now he only wants to rebuild his life by concentrating on two things he truly loves. One is boxing, and another is his teenage sweetheart Maggie (played by Emily Watson). Problem is with Maggie, who happens to be daughter of local IRA bigwig Joe Hamill (played by Brian Cox). She has married to another IRA man and had son with him. Although Danny and Maggie would really like to rekindle their romance, unofficial IRA laws threaten them with severe punishment for such transgression. Joe Hamill is less concerned with his daughter than with Danny's plan to start non- sectarian boxing club. This happens in most inopportune time when IRA leader is negotiating truce with the British. Danny's scheme not only jeopardises IRA authority, but also infuriates IRA radical faction led by Harry (played by Gerald McSorley).
While some critics complained about IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER and SOME MOTHER'S SON showing too much of pro- Republican bias, few would have such complaints in the case of this film. THE BOXER gives more complex, realistic and objective vision of Northern Ireland. Far from reducing centuries-old conflict to the simple story of evil English oppressing Catholic Irish, this film shows city of Belfast being bombed out, decayed and divided between two communities that hate each other. This city without hope doesn't look like a place worth fighting for and the movie suggests that the peace is the only true path towards resolution of conflict. Violence only begets more violence and deprives whole generations of the best years of their lives. It even creates more oppression - IRA, whose purpose is to bring liberation to their people, gradually transformed into institution as oppressive as British authorities they are fighting.
THE BOXER, with its honest portrayal of the dilemmas facing the people of Northern Ireland in new times, benefits from superb acting. Daniel Day-Lewis tried very hard to look authentic for this role and the years of preparing with boxing trainers paid off. Emily Watson is also quite effective in the role of a woman faced with unpleasant dilemmas. Brian Cox again shows his stature as shrewd politician. Even the less known supporting players are good, especially Ken Stott as Danny's former trainer.
Unfortunately, Terry George's script didn't take the most fortunate approach towards the plot. THE BOXER is made of not one but three different stories. The first is political, the second is Danny's attempt to become boxer again and the third is love story between Danny and Maggie. Only the third of those stories is convincing and relevant. The other two suffer from cliches and too much cheap melodrama. However, due to its relevance, not only for Northern Ireland but also for many other parts of the world, THE BOXER deserves to be recommended as well-intentioned and thought-provoking piece of cinema.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
Review written on March 25th 2004
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in Croatian http://www.ofcs.org - Online Films Critics Society
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