PRICE OF GLORY

US, 2000, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jimmy Smits, John Seda, Clifton Collins Jnr, Maria del Mar, Ernesto Hernandez, Paul Rodriguez, Ron Perlman.
Directed by Carlos Avila.

Price of Glory is a boxing film, with plenty of training sequence as well as bouts to satisfy those fond of this sport. However, it is also a film about family relationships, expectations and pressure. It is reminiscent, in its Hispanic- American way, of a King Lear story. Jimmy Smits is a failed boxer (shown vividly in the prologue to the film) who has three sons. He trains them, gets them to win championships, and, as they grow up, grooms them for world success. However, the effect is different on each of the three sons. The youngest supports him, the oldest admires his father but eventually feels that he is being ignored. It is the second son who creates a crisis. He has less talent and feels hated by his father. His father then is persuaded to make contracts to give this son a chance. The difficulty is that in so trying to work for each of the three sons, he tends to alienate, make deals with promoters which lead to violent pressure and ultimately the death of one of the sons.

The title, Price of Glory, is indicative of this theme of family. Jimmy Smits gives an excellent, almost understated performance as the loving but driving father. Maria del Mar is strong as his wife, not alienated from the sport, rather supporting him but wanting to support her sons and their choices more. Ron Perlman appears as the promoter and Paul Rodriguez is a minor gangster, the cause of the ultimate violence.

The film was made by Hispanic- Americans, especially for a Hispanic- American audience. Its themes as well as the presentation of boxing give it a more universal interest and appeal.

1. The title and its relevance to boxing, competitive sport, careers, family relationships - and the suffering, even violence as the price of glory?

2. The Hispanic- American background of the film, its Hispanic- American intended audience? More universal appeal?

3. The Arizona settings, Phoenix and Mariposa, the desert, the towns, the border with Mexico? The world of boxing the gyms, the stadiums, the fights? An authentic and credible atmosphere of the '70s, '80s and '90s? The musical score, the mood, the songs?

4. The perennial theme of an ambitious father and his expectations and pressures on his sons? The variation on the archetypal King Lear story of the father and his unwise treatment of his children with the consequences?

5. The prologue with Arturo and his fight, out of his depth, the brutality, the money deals, his loss? His moving out of competitive boxing?

6. Ten years later, his relationship with his loving wife? Comfortable family life? His three sons and his relationship to them? Genial family at home? At the gym, with Sonny and Jimmy, training them, making them work hard? Johnny and his being younger, his natural ability at boxing, his father thinking he should go to college? Discussions about education, funding, career in the ring? The attitude of each parent?

7. The family as the Fighting Ortegas? The boys winning championships? Their father proud of them? The hopes for the future?

8. The passing of another 13 years: the family, love between husband and wife, comfortable at home? The three boys and their age, experience? Sonny's success, his being the elder, favoured by his father? Jimmy and his lack of ability, wanting to go beyond his means, feelings of resentment? Johnny and his age, his strength, fights and success, his father supporting him?

9. The approach of the promoter, the discussions, the offers of bouts, Arturo's listening, his wanting to be independent? Turning down the offers? The progress and the difficulties with his sons? Meeting the promoter, deciding to do a deal to promote Jimmy for some success? Hoping for better contracts for Sonny and Johnny? His not telling his sons of this plan? The repercussions in the attitude of each son? The promoter and his keeping the bargain, his wanting Sonny and Johnny - and after Jimmy's initial success, allowing him to go on and be beaten? Taking the money back from Arturo? Arturo finally having to do a deal for the betterment of his sons' careers? The portrait of the boxing promoter, pressures, money, self-assurance? His henchmen, Pepe and his coming to pressurise Johnny, his sending the hoodlum, the phone call from the promoter, Arturo hurrying to the gym, confronting the hoodlum, the struggle and Johnny's being shot?

10. Jimmy and his resentment, his career, being given the opportunity, winning a championship, still not satisfied, defying his father, the second bout and his defeat? The friendship with his brother, supporting him, going to see Arturo to bring him back to work for Sonny?

11. Sonny, the eldest, his strengths, championship potential? His meeting his girlfriend? The invitation to the Cruz family to come for a meal, Arturo's manners, defying Mrs Cruz, defying her son, the talk about money and investment? Their leaving? His ultimately being reconciled to Sonny's marriage? The wedding and the celebrations? The building of a new house? Sonny and his wife and their life together? Sonny not understanding his father's deal for them all, moving away from him, the discussions with his mother? Training for the championship, the champion and his defiance and talk about his brothers at the press conference? His father coming back, staying in the background, the final championship fight, his father's support?

12. Johnny, potential, supportive of his father, the confrontation in the gym, his death and the pathos of the funeral?

13. The final bout, Arturo accepting his place, the win, the joy of the whole family?

14. The world of boxing, the gyms, training, the personnel, the deals, the promoters, the exhibitions, the fans?

15. A film blending its boxing theme with issues of family, pressures and expectations? Of love?