BRUISED

US, 2021, 129 minutes, Colour.

Halle Berry, Aidan Canto, Danny Boyd Jr, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sheila Atim.

Directed by Halle Berry.

While there are some strong human and humane themes in Bruised, it seems necessary to highlight the fact that the strong focus of the plot, the continued visual background to the narrative, is Women’s Mixed Martial Arts. There are some vicious sequences, some no holds barred sequences, probably too strong for many audiences.

This is the first film to be directed by Halle Berry, after a long and strong career as an actress, Oscar for, a significant screen presence. And here, filming in her early to mid-50s, she plays Jackie Justice, a fighter who has fallen on hard times after a defeat. Her relationship with her partner is at times loving, at other times fraught with violence, he serving as her manager, but experiencing some jealousy. And, it is revealed that they have a young son who is being cared for by Jackie’s mother.

And this is a humane theme of the film, the relationship between mother and son. There is also the strong tension and arguments between Jackie and her mother, custody of the boy, care for the boy. He is young. And he does not speak. Which means then that there are many domestic sequences, Jackie trying to relate to the boy, outings, encouragement, failing.

But, as a Martial Arts film, Jackie is challenged to go back to training, long and severe regime, supervised by a British instructor, who is into meditation and mindfulness, played by Sheila Atim. Not only is there a strong bonding between the two women, many sequences of exercise, preparation for fight, but also a sexual relationship.

The film also shows the response of sports journalists, the response to the media, the treatment of Jackie in the past and her defeat, interest in the present. And, as always in this kind of drama, there are the ups and downs of Jackie’s experience, fears, issues of self-confidence, and the pressure of the relationship with her son and with her mother.

Some writers have made the connection between Bruised and Rocky. There is a certain Rocky-like similarity in the training, the underdog, the building up to the final fight which is presented in MMA graphic detail.

The finale is not quite the Rocky-type triumph – a strong fight, a strong opponent, acclamation by the crowd, and a gracious bonding by the opponent.

A film for sports fans, for Halle Berry fans, but a caution about the impact of the graphic fights.