esrosedotblog

Boxing seems like a lost art or sport.

My Dad loved the Friday Night Fights. I enjoyed looking at the naked chests and legs.

Today's film provides none of the usual thrills of yesteryear.

Frederick Wiseman's Boxing Gym (2010)

visits a different side of the boxing world. The day to day amateurs who find something deep within themselves in training to box. Whether they ever really box or not.

Frederick Wiseman's film is all about the training. I do not remember actually seeing a real fight. A few scenes of sparring.

Almost all of it is the drill, the leg exercises, the talk. It is grueling to watch. I can only imagine doing it all.

As in all of Wiseman's documentaries, he shows universal thoughts and emotions. Real people engaged in a strange set of rituals which involve grueling preparation. The fight is almost an afterthought.

I enjoyed watching this film a lot. That is the thing this great documentarian brings to us. The examination of strange situations and regular people who are involved in them. There is nothing weird or strange about any of the people in this film. Wiseman lets them talk for themselves. There is no narration. Show don't tell.

There is a lot that is unsaid here. How did these people find boxing. What keeps them involved especially when not one of them will ever achieve any real success. It is all about loss and limitation and overcoming it with hard work. The success is in the work itself. You can see it with these great people. Their spirit and determination are exemplary but they are really very normal humans.

And so on.

I would gladly watch this again. That makes it a 4 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films