Sparring (2017) User Reviews

Beaten by life

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 19 February 2019]

But still standing tall. This is not your flashy "Rocky" movie, something you should be aware from the start. And I'm not saying that one is better than the other. I'm just pointing out that you should not expect this to be a "winner" (or maybe it is?). Certain things are in the eye of the beholder. In this case you have a man who has failed more than once, but still keeps fighting and going on.

You could see that as a symbol or parabel connected to real life. Some may feel the movie is too slow. And that feeling is not "wrong". Like it or not, the movie gives you the silent moments. Gives you character moments and breathes quite a lot. Which is almost ironic when you thnk about the main character and his "breathing" or sometimes issues to catch a breath, especially while fighting or sparring.

Not for everyone as is evident by one reviewer here, but those who cherish it, will find a lot to love about this... almost a love letter to humans in general and their strong will - no matter how qualified or talented they are

A fantastic tribute to losers

[searchanddestroy-1 · 9/10 · 3 February 2018]

This film is for me a a sort of French FAT CITY. Remember the John Huston's movie from 1972, about losers in the fighting game and starring Stacy Keach. And a particular short scene in the beginning of both features can make you think about the link between the two movies; the sequence where the main lead urinate blood in the toilet. Yes that's a movie dedicated to those hundreds of shadow prize fighters who have sometimes dozens of defeats and nearly none victory in their honour list. A movie, this French one, so poignant, moving, cruel, painful. But certainly not totally hopeless. The tale of a tenth grade fighter who struggles to survive with his family and who accepts to serve as a sparring Partner. Terrific.

Film about the virtue

[ditrij-jovanovic · 10/10 · 23 April 2019]

Although he is not good and talented boxer he is real fighter who is ready to deal with difficulties of life like real man. That is not just described in ring but in his relationship with his family, his honesty, and his virtue gets the best from all people around him. Also, boxing scenes are great and real also as music.

A must watch

[alexgvft · 10/10 · 1 January 2021]

Great movie, inspiring, it's not about winning, it's about fighting against all odds until the bell rings. Great acting from The boxers and The daughter is also great. It's a Netflix treasure. Suitable for boxing fans and also for anyone who likes a good story. It reminds us about The importance of family and The sacrifices it requires. It's also a great reminder that Age is just a number. Good references to other great boxing movies like Rocky and Gladiator.

Do what you love

[gmenezesborges · 9/10 · 25 June 2022]

This movie portraits Steve's (Mathieu Kassovitz) professional drama. Steve is an aging father, husband and boxer with much more losses than wins. He's hired to be a training fighter of a famous and talented boxer. Over the course of this professional challenge, Steve shows his value as an experiencied, although loser, boxer fighter.

Delicate boxing movie from France

[guisreis · 8/10 · 3 March 2022]

Although this is something unexpected to say about a boxing movie, this is a very delicate one, hard to be labeled in a genre, but something between a drama and a dramatic comedy. An ageing boxer, with embarassingly little money and a family he loves (and that loves him), needs to keep fighting. However, he is what is called a "journeyman", with a far from promising record (much more losses than victories). As a sparring of a champ things will become better, or it is just a desperate move?

I watched it on Netflix after it recommended something or something lol

[juanmuscle · 10/10 · 8 May 2021]

And I found it adorable. I really enjoyed the main guy, he really played the bum to the hilt and the sweet dad like a total champ! And everyone else was on point. The writing was nuanced, and it really hit home , what it's like to be a dad and to really love your children and not want to them to go down the same bum hard road , just a really sweet tale, highly recommend it! My two favorite parts were dialogue sequences I found to be very very well written, one when the child explains to the dad why he doesn't want to go to the fight and the other was the coach expressing his feelings on before the final round!

A beautiful, poetic and sad movie...

[RosanaBotafogo · 8/10 · 27 August 2022]

What a sad movie, it's about dreams and failures, unfortunately failure presents itself to many who can't fulfill the dream of working in a profession they've always dreamed of, often it's not just a matter of having the gift, but also having the opportunity, or luck, or chance, or who knows fate, something that didn't happen in these people's lives, a beautiful, poetic and sad movie... But also having the opportunity, or luck, or chance, or who knows fate, something that didn't happen in these people's lives, a beautiful, poetic and sad movie... A beautiful, poetic and sad movie... Very good and sad...

Not a very logic one about boxing

[MovieIQTest · 2 September 2018]

What we see here is a loser who did odd jobs to keep his family afloat, making his poor and miserable living with his family by either a punching bag for other famous boxing stars or kept losing in his own pathetic boxing fights, earning as little as getting his minimum wages. His facial wounds were an eye-sore proof of his every boxing aftermath, and he even pissing blood when he urinated that only showed he got some internal damages to his body. Yet what we saw in this film was a guy kept chain smoking and littered cigarette butts everywhere when he finished smoking.

Was there any logic or a basic common sense in boxing? A boxer who not only smoked but chain-smoked. So except getting short breaths when he fought, his lungs could never provide him with enough oxygen. No wonder this moron kept losing fights. And every time when he lost, he smoked more to suppress his pains and loss.

This is a pathetic film about a loser without any self discipline and basic knowledge, trying so hard to be a good husband and father with pipe dreams, making his living by using his body as a punching bag. The only comfort he got was his chain smoking.

You don't have to watch it through, 'cause there's no need to waste your time, your sympathy, humanity, and compassion on morons or losers.