by Charles Kirkland Jr.
Renowned cinematographer Rachel Morrison makes her feature directorial debut with a film about
boxer Claressa Shields’ true-life ascent to the Olympics, The Fire Inside.
Young Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) runs across town and sneaks into a boxing gym, eager to spar with
the boys. Initially opposed to the idea of coaching girl boxers, local volunteer coach Jason Crutchfield
(Brian Tyree Henry) changes his mind and takes her under his wing. Claressa proves fiercely talented but
soon Crutchfield must go beyond the duties of a coach to keep her on track. As she starts to become
successful, Claressa starts to feel not just the pressure of winning, but also the burden of both familial
responsibilities and representing her troubled hometown of Flint, Michigan that are finding hope in her
abilities.
The Fire Inside is written and produced by Barry Jenkins. The film is the feature film debut of Rachel
Morrison who served as a cinematographer on Black Panther, Mudbound, and Fruitvale Station.
For a first-time director, The Fire Inside is a perfect film to get your feet wet. It is an inspirational story
based on true events about overcoming the odds. The story of Claressa Shields is historic.
Claressa is the first Black woman to win a gold medal in Olympic boxing. Even more incredibly, she is the
only woman or man to win gold in two consecutive Olympics. While much of the film’s opening act is
devoted to her work towards the gold medal, the real story comes in the second act, after Shields’
success when she discovers being an Olympic gold medal winner does not automatically ensure success.
It’s a unique sports story that goes beyond the triumph of the underdog to ask what comes after.
Sure, the story is very, very formulaic. The story of the underdog overcoming was a theme of
several movies at TIFF this year. But the reason why there are so many of these stories is the fact that
they are so often successful. When done correctly, as it is in this film, these stories are magical and
inspirational, especially when they are based upon a true story.
The Fire Inside is a darker and grittier variation on the formula based on the real-life story of Claressa
Shields. Rachel Morrison and Oscar winner Barry Jenkins craft a film that strays a bit from the normal
winning formula by making Claressa’s athletic success a backdrop to the truer story about inequality for
women and African Americans.
Grade: B-