The Fight – Review

Jessica Hynes makes an impactful directorial debut with this nuanced, low-key drama. Tina (Hynes) is a woman on the edge of losing control; sagging under the weight of bringing up three children with her partner Mick (Shaun Parkes) and working at a local care home. Her heightening stress and mental exhaustion is only exacerbated by the knowledge of her parents’ fractured marriage and the news that her daughter is being bullied at her school. However, these latest developments do not appear to be all that they seem with Tina appearing afraid to confront either problem head-on due to some, initially undisclosed, history. Taking up boxing in order to tackle her fears, Tina attempts to channel her pain and earn some self-respect, gain control of her life and learn to confront herself and her past.

It’s always interesting to see what material a well-established actor chooses when they first take on a directorial role and The Fight feels like a very personal, keenly felt film. The relationships between characters feel fundamentally human and lived-in, Hynes herself excelling as Tina whose emotional damage, frustrations and heightened sense of stress are palpable throughout the film. When it comes to the characters the film resists slipping into caricature as evidenced by the treatment of Tina and Mick’s marriage. It would be easy to overplay their relationship breaking down under modern life’s pressures, but this is rejected in favour of a far more sensitive and subtler portrayal. You are given glimpses into the bond between them, snatched when they have minutes of downtime, and these feel fragile and special.

The film does struggle a little to resist clichés when it comes to boxing (Rocky’s shadow is present occasionally) and there are some uses of slow-mo which feel a little hackneyed. These don’t detract much from the film but they do grate a little, as does the film’s pacing which slips a little towards the end. Ultimately the film is at its strongest when focused on the drama (internal and external) inflicted upon it’s various characters, everyone delivers well here and lifts the film above its minor flaws. This is a confident, and exciting debut from Hynes and one cannot help but hope that she takes on another project soon.