Swing Bout

This was a Great film well executed. The Cast was brilliantly selected with some fantastic performances throughout the film.

From the 1st minute of the film it had an intense tone which was both immersive and attention catching.

I also found the tension that was built up by the tone of the movie was brilliantly broken by the humour that definitely landed.

The choice of actors used was done perfectly with some break out performances from young actors who really handled their roles well.

The creators did a fantastic job of giving you the feeling you where there.

The tense atmosphere of the movie was felt throughout Great movie.

I was incredibly impressed with Swing Bout. I am always very supportive of independent film making, especially Irish film. However Swing Bout really stands out as something special and has set the bar extremely high for Irish filmmaking going forward. It's extremely exciting to see such a stacked cast of fresh and exciting emerging Irish talent such as Baz Black and Sinéad O'Riordan up on the big the big screen and they've got some fantastic material to work with here. There is an immaculate attention to detail in Swing Bout. The set, the score, the performances all come together perfectly to create an exiting momentum from start to finish. Not a single frame is wasted, I was thoroughly invested in the life's of all the characters and it all builds towards an exciting conclusion you will never see coming. Go out and experience Swing Bout on the big screen as soon as you can, you will not be disappointed.

I was lucky enough to see Swing Bout at a sold out full house at the Dublin International Film Festival. Simply put, the film is excellent. It lit a fire in me, a need to make another film. The passion of everyone involved eminates from the screen.

The writing and directing is sharp and energetic. The performances are captivating and nuanced. The production is extremely polished. Camera, lighting, sound, makeup, all the departments excel at their roles.

The story is universal, making it accessible to all, no matter your background or where you are from. I will be watching this film again and have no doubt the team behind it will continue to thrive and make more and more hits.

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.

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.