Set backstage at a major boxing event, a young boxer is plunged into a tumultuous journey from the dressing room to her ring walk in a night of deceit, betrayal, and life-altering decisions.
Chuck says:
A gritty morality tale, Maurice O’Carroll’s “Swing Bout” is a blistering chamber piece featuring a bevy of desperate characters, each encountering a variety of ethical dilemmas, none of which can be solved with fists or brawn. Running a scant 90 minutes, the film becomes an almost unbearable pressure cooker, an expertly rendered, thriller that constantly ratchets up the tension until it reaches a breaking point, resulting in fatal consequences.
The majority of the action takes place in a locker room in the bowels of an Irish arena. As the title fights play out above them, a quartet of female boxers wait in the wings, hoping to get a chance to prove themselves in the square circle. There’s no guarantee they’ll step in the ring as they are regulated to swing bouts, unscheduled fights that only occur if there’s an early knockout during one of the higher profile matches. Though seen as time-fillers to many fans, these events are of vital importance to these women, a proving ground that could lead to bigger matches and larger purses.
Undefeated but not getting the recognition she deserves, Toni (a great Ciara Berkeley) is focused on advancing through the ranks, pushing herself at every turn. There’s a fierce determination in her that won’t be denied. Her success in the ring is the validation she craves and she’s intent on experiencing that again and again. Mary and Bernie (Megan Haly and Niamh Cremin) are equally determined, the trash talk they throw at one another a tactic to psyche themselves up, hiding the mutual respect they have for one another. And then there’s Vicki (Christiane Reicke), a newcomer looking for her first fight, a brash, egotistical woman, pushed by her father, who’s also her trainer.
As the four fighters pick at each other and try to assuage their inner doubts, brothers Jack (Ben Condron) and Micko (Frank Prendergast, shifty promoters both, are each dealing with the fallout from a shady deal they’ve undertaken. Meanwhile, Emma (Sinead O’Riordan), Toni’s manager, has been assured her fighter will appear in a bout that night but must throw it for a $15,000 payout. She’s doing her best to convince Toni that taking this money, which she’s been told is $10,000, will in the long run be in her best interests. That Emma’s told her husband, Gary (Gerard Kearney) to bet their savings on the match, only increases her desperation.
As O’Carroll’s camera glides around the locker room, moving from one terse conversation to the next, the personal stakes for all involved become evident. Events occur that raise the stakes for everyone, each presented with a situation in which they must decide to compromise their beliefs or adhere to what they know Is true. This is most pressing, and moving, where the fighters are concerned. It’s implied Toni, Mary and Bernie come from poor backgrounds. As a result, they hold dear to what they believe in, their honor and pride precious, as it is the only thing they’ve ever had. Each fight to preserve this, so asking Toni to lose on purpose is akin to asking her to cut out her own heart.
In the end, O’Carroll’s moral sense seems plain. The characters willing to take shortcuts come to a bad end, while those who stay true to themselves can hold their heads high. The writer/director is not so naïve to suggest the moral highroad leads to financial or professional success. In the end, “Swing Bout” adheres to the notion that being able to look yourself in the mirror is more valuable than unwarranted praise or a healthy bank account.
3 1/2 Stars
