The Fire Inside

It is one thing to make a film about Claressa Shields’ back-to-back Olympic gold medals. It’s another thing to make a film about Flint, MI’s Golden Girl.

Hiding behind a sports biopic is a deeper look at the inequity and imbalance of the sports industry, and the ways it shuts out the progression of female athletes of all levels and economic backgrounds.

This is why the film doesn’t end when you think it will—because this isn’t just a story about a gold medalist. This is a story about a young girl who won in spite of every factor working against her, and who has made sure no one else will have to fight that hard again.

The boxing scenes were electric and gratifying, but this is a drama first and a sports drama second.

Brian Tyree Henry delivers a standout performance, as always.

This one is for all the girls who love the fight.