AFI Fest: “The Fire Inside” Packs a Surprising Punch

by Eurocheese

I have to admit that on the last day of AFI Fest, I was not particularly excited to see a boxing film. Oscar seems to have an affinity for the topic, but sports films in general don't resonate with me. Shame on me for underestimating Barry Jenkins as a screenwriter and for not having higher hopes for cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut. The Fire Inside, much like its protagonist, proves itself again and again: It’s a compelling, smart drama with a scope that stretches far beyond the game.

The film is based on the true story of Claressa Shields who overcame obstacles all her life in Flint, Michigan on her way to becoming an Olympian...

Newcomer Ryan Destiny gives Claressa grit that is needed to make her believable, but also manages to show the heart just below the surface of her tough exterior. She’s ambivalent to appearances, but she is a loyal friend and family member when she is needed. It’s a tricky performance to pull off, and Destiny wrings the truth out of her emotional scenes while still showing us how those who don’t know her might see her as cold or distant. When she meets rejection or frustrations on her path to success, the audience can feel her pain, which makes her successes that much sweeter.

THE FIRE INSIDE

Her sparring partner and father figure is her coach, played by Brian Tyree Henry in another impressive performance likely to place him in the Best Supporting Actor conversation. Not only does he have terrific chemistry with Ryan, he quietly builds a hopeful, often wounded performance of a man hanging on to Claressa’s future as if it was his own. Jenkins’ script wisely floats the idea that these boxing triumphs are wins for the community of Flint, people that feel like the world has forgotten them. Henry plays his character as a life coach and someone who may not have been prepared to step into his young protégé’s life in such a significant way. He speaks with the weight of past mistakes, but he is always pushing Claressa forward.

The rough road this production had making its way to the big screen – nearly being cancelled at one point – almost feels appropriate, given the difficulties Sheilds encountered in real life. Morrison appeared for a Q&A (along with Ryan Destiny) being interviewed by director Ryan Coogler, who she clearly reveres as a mentor. It’s no surprise that as a woman forging a path in a male-dominated field, she could connect to Claressa challenging gender equality in her sport simply by excelling. That might be the highlight of the film: The focus on how one person’s gift can inspire those around them and impact their corner of the world in ways they never even considered.

The Fire Inside opens in select theaters on Christmas day.