The Boxer

When I heard that we were going to be seeing The Boxer I got very excited, especially when I heard that Professor Smith would be leading it. He really had a lot of insight into the history of this entire conflict with the IRA for the fact that it was right out of his front door.
Although the story of the film is not based on any actual event it does a wonderful job of showing the type of life that the English and Irish lived in the 80's and 90's. Barricades on every corner, tanks rolling down the streets, gunshots fired without warning, Catholic and Protestant's killing each other.
Who would think that such hate an violence could be around after so many years. Strained relations with Catholics and Protestants goes back since the Elizabethan era and it still has strong routes in the celtic isles today.
If there is one country that never gives up fighting against the english that county would be Ireland. Since the year 1536 Ireland has continued to rise and do battle with those who seek to control them. The modern day Irish rebels would be the IRA (Irish Republic Army)
The Boxer tells the story of an ex-IRA man named Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) who has just been released from a 14 year stint in prison. With his new found freedom he reopens an old boxing school and seeks to bring the communities (both catholic and protestants) together while trying to reconnect with the woman he loves. But this is not a simple world. Old allies have become foes. The more violent side of the IRA doesn't wish this peace to be. The fight has to continue...no matter what.
The Boxer doesn't sugar coat anything. Its brutal. It doesn't even have to show that much violence or blood to prove that point. A dark fearful aura fills this Irish/British world. The thought that a country as advanced as the U.K. would be struggling with such difficult issues still is amazing...almost frightening.
What I love is that Danny Flynn's character comes out without even a hint of fear. Throughout the film he shows great courage and blatant defiance of those who left him to rot in his cell. The thing is he never actually seeks out revenge. He comes out with the desire to live his life to better those around him and not visit his violent past.
As the credits role you start to believe that maybe Danny does find the peace he wants. Maybe he will continue the fight...but in a different way.
Overall The Boxer is a film that shows us the best and worst of ourselves. Passion, violence, love, pain, and a hopeful future.