For anyone who has not heard of Christy Martin, a trailblazing figure in women’s boxing, here is an opportunity to learn about her life and challenges in the biographical sports drama film directed by David Michôd, titled Christy. Co-written with Mirrah Foulkes, it was the Opening Night film for the Austin Film Festival this year. Although I did not watch it in the historic theater downtown, I was able to view the film during the festival four days later when it was offered offsite in advance without the large crowds.
I had already heard about the great performance by Sydney Sweeney (Anyone but You, “Euphoria” TV series, Americana) in the lead role, and yes, she is great while being unrecognizable as a young adult enjoying boxing as a sport. I have not followed women’s boxing from the start but had a general idea of what to expect from the story of a woman breaking into a sport that has been predominantly only male. I have only recently become more familiar with women breaking into a sport (wrestling) from watching a documentary from Canada during Fantastic Fest in late September. In both, we see the challenges the athletes encounter as they branch out from their local gyms to much bigger rings in other states when women in sports gradually begin to grow and expand. Those challenges come with abuse and nasty human characters who make sure they are “accepting” of the women athletes, primarily for their own benefit.
Christy Martin rose to stardom in the ‘90s but it was not easy as she overcame a disapproving and judgmental mother (Merritt Wever), a manipulative trainer, Jim (Ben Foster) who becomes her husband and finds her way back to the person she loved at the beginning of her career, Rosie (Jess Gabor). The story can be seen as formulaic at the beginning of the film, and in the third act do we see the depth of abuse by her husband, played by an exceptionally good Ben Foster. There are other scenes leading up to this very graphic violence, but this one shook me to my core when he follows through on the verbal threat he makes to her previously.
Of note is the character, Lisa Holewyne (Katy O’Brian, Love Lies Bleeding) who is a former opponent who temporarily helps train Christy. Although the scenes are not lengthy, they show how the two form a connection as she prepares for the Ali bout. O’Brian shines.
Christy is scheduled to be released on November 7, 2025.
Source: Austin Film Festival (AFF), Black Bear Pictures
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