Renowned cinematographer Rachel Morrison makes her feature directorial debut with this film about boxer Claressa Shields’ true-life ascent to the Olympics. It’s a unique sports story that goes beyond the triumph of the underdog to ask what comes after.
Young Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) sneaks into a boxing gym, eager to spar with the boys. Local volunteer coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry) quickly takes her under his wing. Claressa proves fiercely talented but soon Crutchfield must go beyond the duties of a coach to keep her on track as she starts to feel not just the pressure of winning, but also the glare of her beleaguered hometown of Flint, Michigan seeking hope in her resilience.
Destiny gives a stunning performance as Shields, weaving between grounded and intense as she tries to shake off her precarious reality. You’re quickly rooting for Claressa’s ascent to the Olympics but also forced to confront the crushing disappointment when things don’t turn out. All the while, Henry keeps us in the fight with a performance that finds warmth and patience amid the frustrations.
The Fire Inside marks Rachel Morrison’s feature directorial debut as she uses her multifaceted experience as cinematographer on films big and small (Fruitvale Station; Mudbound, TIFF ’17; Black Panther) to capture both the intimate moments of Claressa’s life and her extraordinary matchups in the ring. Written and produced by Barry Jenkins, this film is a journey that takes us through the usual triumphs of the underdog and to what comes after. Where countless sports stories find their end, Claressa’s begins.
JANE SCHOETTLE
Content advisory: violence
Screenings
Royal Alexandra Theatre
Scotiabank 13
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Scotiabank 14