Punch (2002)

Director:

Guy Bennett

Writer:

Guy Bennett (written by)

Release Date:

7 February 2003 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Who Needs Anger Management?

Plot Keywords:

Leg Spreading | Female Frontal Nudity | Vagina | Boxing | Catfight

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Riley	...	Sam
Sonja Bennett	...	Ariel
Meredith McGeachie	...	Julie
Marcia Laskowski	...	Mary
Vincent Gale	...	Irwin
Kathryn Kirkpatrick	...	Beth
Don Ackerman	...	Markus
Sarah Lind	...	Liz
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Customer
Mercedes de la Zerda	...	Tanya
Dorota Dragan	...	Muscle Woman
Andrea Nazareno	...	Vicky

MPAA:

Rated R for language, nudity and sexual content.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Brightlight Pictures

Movie Connections:

References "The X Files" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Last Days of Stereo

In a word: ELEKTRA COMPLEX

This is what the movie box says: "Ariel is a girl with more than her fair share of personal problems. When she learns to take out her frustrations in the boxing ring, she find it just might be her chance to fight for a better life." The front of the box has a pic of Ariel, played extremely well by Sonja Bennet, with a tank top and her hands wrapped for boxing-a little spatter of blood-standing in a boxing pose. Now, the problem with that is that never once in the movie did she learn to box. And never once in the movie did she get inside a boxing ring!

Now, if you just ignore those facts, this film is a great movie. It was well directed-Guy Bennett's first film. Michael Riley plays Ariel's father and he was quite impressive. What this film is really about is a young girl, who's trauma from her mother's death has made her a mean antisocial type, who's possessive of her father. There is a very obvious sexual tension between her and her father as a result of her taking on the housewife role of her mother, and this is really the the base of the story. After assaulting his new girlfriend, she's forced to grow up and take responsibility for her life and her actions by the victim's sister- an undefeated topless boxer. That part, as others here have said, was just for titillation. She learns to grow, to let go, and to experience life through the consequences of her actions. This is a great movie, well acted and directed. Well told. There are a handful of short, well done fight scenes-especially the one at the climax. I don't want to say to much her and give anything away. Pick it up for a good conversation piece, not date-night with the town tough girl. Just ignore the stuff on the back of the box.