Swing Bout

Set in the world of female boxing competions, this low budget feature really punches above it's weight. Beautifully acted and directed, it's story is gripping and personal. I'd highly recommend a look to see just how much can be done to create character driven story and tension, with a small amount of finance. The editing is tight and the performances are powerful. The soundtrack keeps us feeling the presence of the boxing ring, while the ensemble of actors brings us into the messy and conflicted world of the boxing competitions. It is a powerhouse of a production and I look forward to seeing what is next for this team.

A gripping film with a big heart and a captivating collection of characters. The story unfolds in the locker-room, offices, toilets and corridors, and cleverly manages to keep up the exhilarating tension without ever bringing us into the ring, and the fact that we never see the ring makes the story all the more powerful. The very relatable characters are brought to life by brilliant performances and sharply written and authentic dialogue. All the above along with a great soundscape, rich cinematography and thoughtful visual design make this a refreshing treat of a film. I'll look forward to the team's next creation.

Great independent Irish cinema with no agendas, just great storytelling and great characters on a roller coaster of adrenaline. I loved the characters, they felt real and relatable. The plot and sub-plot interweved perfectly and the comedy and drama balance was perfect. Well done to all involved.

When you consider the rubbish that Hollywood is churning out with massive budgets and then when you see what talented passionate people can produce with tiny budgets without the interference of studios and agendas it's clear that allowing directors and producers to be their authentic selves and tell stories they believe in leads to far superior work. It's a pity the industry is so upside down like this, but its refreshing to know that great cinema still exists. Highly recommend.

A constantly surprising independent film that can go to toe to toe in any ring with the big shots.

Buyoed by a set of captivating central performances, Swing Bout captures a seedy underbelly of corruption while keeping a clear focus on strong character development and finds a way to make a virtue of a tight budget while still feeling like a momentous fight night.

At times it seems like a roving documentary crew have managed to invade some grimy inner sanctum to lay bear the faults and failures of a system thay brutalises bodies while propping up suits in the background. Strongly recommended.

Two young women boxers await their chance to shine in a competitive, brutal sport, the real stories happening outside the ring. Dealing with her ruthless coach (Sinead O'Riordan), Toni (Ciara Berkeley) paces backstage with an unspoken anxiety that hints at her troubled backstory, while her opponent Vicki (Chrissie Cronin) is pushed to her limits by her father (Johnny Elliot) with a subtle manipulation that hints perhaps at the unfulfillment of his own broken dreams. Accomplished performances bring authenticity to the claustrophobia of the backstage areas where several, interconnecting narratives entwine with growing tension. Shots of dramedy spiral darkly into violent and deceitful actions of opposing brothers in crime (Ben Condron and Frank Prendergast) as ruthless coach Emma plays her own game of manipulation and dishonesty. A visceral exploration by the director (Maurice O'Carroll), SWING BOUT portrays the murkier and male-dominated side of the business, and I was left wanting more from the female characters of Toni and Vicki who both shine from the screen with trajectories of light and dark, bravery and fear, their ambitions at the mercy of the influencers whom control their fates.