WATCH: A young gay boxer fights for his future in this moving queer sports drama
Pulp Fiction’s Tim Roth) knows it, too, which is why he pushes him so hard in training, while battling demons of his own. “Dad, I’ve got a life,” Jim pleads with him. “Not any more you ain’t, you’re a boxer.”But Jim’s world begins to open up in unexpected ways when he meets a gay Māori boy named Whetu (The Wilds‘ Conan Hayes), who is frequently bullied for painting his nails and wearing feminine clothing.Whetu also dreams of leaving town, with music as his escape, and the two young men connect over their shared ambitions, igniting a spark between them.
As the two grow closer, Jim begins to realize just how small-minded his small town can be.From New Zealand-based director Welby Ings, Punch is described as a “contemporary film about love, loyalty and liberation.” The story comes from a very personal place, inspired by Ings’ partner who—similar to Jim—came from a boxing family, and whose life tragically ended before he could repair his strained relationship with his father.Punch premiered last summer at the New Zealand International Film Festival, and then debute stateside earlier this year in Palm Springs.
