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We hold a romantic notion of the boxer as a modern stoic, an individual whose will is forged in the crucible of physical combat and whose integrity is as solid as their jaw. Swing Bout respectfully, and intelligently, disagrees. It posits that the true fight, the one that actually matters, is a quieter, more insidious affair, waged not under the glare of stadium lights but in the sickly yellow hum of a backstage locker room.

The film’s protagonist, ‘Terrible’ Toni (Ciara Berkeley), is a young fighter whose most formidable opponent is not in the opposite corner, but in the very system that promises her a shot at a fleeting, conditional glory. This is a story that expertly diagnoses the modern condition of precarious labor; the “swing bout,” an unscheduled match used to fill dead airtime, is the zero-hour contract of the sporting world. It is an opportunity contingent entirely...

Written and directed by Maurice O’Carroll, “Swing Bout” is a chamber drama set in the world of boxing. It begins with a brief introduction to all its characters through a stroll behind the scenes, meant to offer an idea of their interpersonal dynamic. Simultaneously, it leads us to believe that they are part of an intense professional environment filled with cutthroat competition and corruption. About ten or fifteen minutes into it, you wonder: What is so special about a boxing championship happening somewhere in Ireland? That leads you to its strengths as well as its limitations. Let’s talk about the strengths first.

The way these people blow things out of proportion makes you realize how important this world is to them. For some, it’s about the sport, while for others, it’s just about the business. The script introduces their conflicts through a clash of ambitions, egos, and prospects.

For his latest video review, Kevin sits down to give his thoughts on another of his picks of the big-budget / low-budget / no-budget movie landscape… Swing Bout. Giving you his personal opinion on why you should or shouldn’t give this movie your time.

A series of quick knockouts at a boxing event can cause a gap in the TV schedule and these holes are plugged with Swing Bouts. The swing bout boxers may or may not fight but they are expected to put their lives on the line at a moments notice. Set backstage at a major boxing event, a young boxer is plunged into a tumultuous journey from the dressing room to her ring walk in a night of deceit, betrayal, and life-altering decisions.

Directed by Maurice O’Carroll, Swing Bout stars Ciara Berkeley, Ben Condron, Frank Prendergast, Chrissie Cronin and Sinead O’Riordan, who also produces.

Swing Bout will be...

Maurice O’Carroll’s low-budget film, set in boxing’s back rooms, relies on its actors and script to deliver a tense, knockout drama

‘Terrible” Toni (Ciara Berkeley) is broke, but she’s a fighter – literally. Heading into her first televised boxing match, this young sportswoman is intent on making the most of what feels like a golden opportunity. She’s also personally invested; her opponent (an excellent Chrissie Cronin) is a cocky TikTok star who could perhaps benefit from being taken down a peg or two. Unfortunately, boxing at this level isn’t squeaky clean, and she’ll be asked to make some tough decisions with serious implications for her integrity and future in the sport.

Named for the filler matches boxing promoters use to plug spaces in the TV schedule when more established contenders fail to fight for as long as anticipated, this Irish boxing film is low on...