Beautifully acted by a young cast, this first feature from Welby Ings is a delicately balanced combination of compelling boxing movie and touching teenage drama
A promising teenage boxer in a claustrophobic small town discovers his sexuality when he falls in love with the only openly gay kid in high school. It sounds like the biggest film cliche ever, but New Zealand film-maker Welby Ings does something subtle and tender with this in his sensitive feature debut. It’s a delicate film with a pair of lovely, natural-feeling performances from its two leads.
Jordan Oosterhof is Jim, a boxer growing up in a seaside town in New Zealand where homophobia is alive and kicking: “faggot” is a routine term of abuse. Jim is gearing up for his first ever professional fight, trained by his English dad, alcoholic ex-boxer Stan. Jim hangs about with the sports bros, but he’s also a budding photographer.
A promising teenage boxer in a claustrophobic small town discovers his sexuality when he falls in love with the only openly gay kid in high school. It sounds like the biggest film cliche ever, but New Zealand film-maker Welby Ings does something subtle and tender with this in his sensitive feature debut. It’s a delicate film with a pair of lovely, natural-feeling performances from its two leads.
Jordan Oosterhof is Jim, a boxer growing up in a seaside town in New Zealand where homophobia is alive and kicking: “faggot” is a routine term of abuse. Jim is gearing up for his first ever professional fight, trained by his English dad, alcoholic ex-boxer Stan. Jim hangs about with the sports bros, but he’s also a budding photographer.
- 11/8/2023
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
"How does it happen? That we become something that we're not?" Peccadillo Pictures has debuted a second official trailer for the indie film Punch from New Zealand, a boxing drama made by filmmaker Welby Ings. This premiered at a few festivals last year, and already opened on VOD in March earlier in the year – this is an extra UK trailer for its release this fall. Jordan Oosterhof stars as Jim, a young boxer preparing for his first professional fight. He begins to rethink his life and his sexuality after tangling with Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his days in an old shack down by the beach that he built entirely himself. The two are forced to navigate isolation, homophobia, and the brutality of small-town life. As Jim discovers what it means to be gay, he realizes how little strength is connected to heroism. The film also stars Tim Roth,...
- 10/27/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Films revolving around the freedom of asserting one’s identity, dealing with the right to a way of life, are quite revealing of the times we live in, making them an important watch. Punch, the new film by writer director Welby Ings, deals with the issue of identity, placing us in Pirau, a small seaside town in New Zealand. Viewing the town’s worldview through a sharp socio-political lens, the film begins exploring the lives of two classmates, Jim and Whetu, and the price they must pay for asserting their true identity.
Jim is an up and coming boxer, being trained by his concerned but overbearing father. Whetu, a Maori boy, lives in a hut away from the suburban settlement. Jim is nicely fitted in his social group, while Whetu is an outcast. Both their lives start undergoing dramatic changes once they start getting close to one another.
Spoilers Ahead...
Jim is an up and coming boxer, being trained by his concerned but overbearing father. Whetu, a Maori boy, lives in a hut away from the suburban settlement. Jim is nicely fitted in his social group, while Whetu is an outcast. Both their lives start undergoing dramatic changes once they start getting close to one another.
Spoilers Ahead...
- 6/14/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
Punch is a coming-of-age drama directed by New Zealander Welby Ings and stars Tim Roth, newcomer Jordan Oosterhaf, and former professional surfer Conan Hayes.
Jim is a young but focused professional fighter and at just seventeen years old, wants nothing more than to make his demanding father proud. With his life on track for success, Jim meets Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his time in an old shack by the beach. Despite his dedication and self confidence, after meeting Whetu, Jim must confront the truth about his own sexuality and his choices.
The Star: Tim Roth Tim Roth. Depostiphotos
Tim Roth is an English actor, director and producer who has had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He first rose to prominence with his performance as Tim ‘Fool’ Condon in the 1985 film The Hit. Since then Tim has gone on to appear in numerous leading roles in films such as Reservoir Dogs,...
Jim is a young but focused professional fighter and at just seventeen years old, wants nothing more than to make his demanding father proud. With his life on track for success, Jim meets Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his time in an old shack by the beach. Despite his dedication and self confidence, after meeting Whetu, Jim must confront the truth about his own sexuality and his choices.
The Star: Tim Roth Tim Roth. Depostiphotos
Tim Roth is an English actor, director and producer who has had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He first rose to prominence with his performance as Tim ‘Fool’ Condon in the 1985 film The Hit. Since then Tim has gone on to appear in numerous leading roles in films such as Reservoir Dogs,...
- 3/8/2023
- by Em Schaum
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
"I keep the world at a distance." Dark Star Pictures has unveiled the US trailer for a New Zealand indie sports film titled Punch, a boxing drama from filmmaker Welby Ings. This premiered at a few festivals last year, and is arriving in the US on VOD and in theaters in March. Jordan Oosterhof stars as Jim, a young boxer preparing for his first professional fight. He begins to rethink his life and his sexuality after tangling with Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his days in an old shack down by the beach. The two are forced to navigate isolation, homophobia, and the brutality of small-town life. As Jim discovers what it means to be gay, he realizes how little strength is connected to heroism. The cast includes Tim Roth, Conan Hayes, Abigail Laurent, and Sage Klein. The film seems solid, an emotionally potent story about a young boxer.
- 2/8/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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