The Boxer (1997)

The Boxer (1997) — Drama / Romance / Sport Synopsis: Danny Flynn, a young man who spent 14 years in prison after “taking the rap” for IRA-related violence, returns to his working-class Belfast neighborhood determined to leave political violence behind. Now a grown man and former boxer, Danny opens a nonsectarian boxing club that welcomes both Catholic and Protestant youths. His efforts to build a peaceful, cross-community space put him at odds with old IRA colleagues who view compromise as betrayal. Complicating matters is Maggie, Danny’s teenage love who married his best friend while he was inside; their lingering feelings and the presence of Maggie’s young son create a fraught, emotional triangle. As tensions escalate, Danny must face threats from former comrades, the pressures of community loyalty, and the possibility of starting anew. What the viewer will experience: - A gritty, character-driven drama set against the raw, divided atmosphere of 1990s Belfast. - Intense, realistic boxing scenes and training moments that serve as both sport spectacle and metaphor for personal struggle and discipline. - A slow-burning emotional core: restrained, painful romance and longing rather than melodrama. - Moral conflict and tension between personal redemption and political allegiance; the film examines loyalty, conscience, and the cost of violence. - Strong performances and an intimate focus on everyday life in a neighborhood torn by history and ideology, giving the story both human warmth and tragic weight. - Moments of quiet hope amid danger—an emphasis on community-building, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the challenge of choosing a different path. Overall, The Boxer is a moving, sometimes tense portrait of a man trying to rebuild his life and keep his ideals intact in a place where the past and politics refuse to let go.

Actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Daragh Donnelly

Director: Jim Sheridan

Runtime: 113 min

Genres: Drama, Romance, Sport

7.1 /10 75 /100 7.0 /10 7.2 /10