POOR BOY’S GAME

Canada, 2006, 104 minutes, Colour.
Danny Glover, Rossif Sutherland, Greg Bryk, Laura Regan, Tonya Lee Williams, Stephen Mc Hattie, K.C. Collins, Flex Alexander.
Directed by Clement Birgo.

Poor Boy’s Game is a film about racism, violence, gangs, overcoming the past, forgiveness and reconciliation.

The setting is Canadian, Halifax. The city of Halifax has its own problems in various neighbourhoods with their own ethos, racist prejudice, as well as poverty.

The film focuses on a young man who as a teenager beat a black boy to death. After serving nine years in prison (for his brother as it turns out), he is challenged to a boxing match with a black fighter – something which his family and others want for revenge on the white boy. The young man is sent to the father of the murdered boy who is a boxing trainer. At first unwilling, he realises that both have to face the past, form an alliance, overcome all the difficulties on both sides of the prejudice gap.

Rossif Sutherland is the young man. Rossif Sutherland is a son of Donald Sutherland, half-brother to Kiefer Sutherland. (He takes after his father rather than his half-brother in size and height.) Danny Glover portrays the father of the murdered boy and the coach – in the usual sympathetic Danny Glover style.

The film is strong on atmosphere, local colour, focusing on the characters and the issues – a small-budget film, co-written and directed by Jamaican-born director Clement Virgo. However, it packs quite an emotional and thematic punch.

1.A Canadian production? The writer-director and his West Indian background? Race issues? For Canadians? International audiences?

2.The Halifax setting, the city, the neighbourhoods, the poor black areas, the church? Prisons? Clubs, gyms? The boxing ring and arena? Gritty and authentic? The musical score?

3.The title – the reference to whom? To Donny? To Charles?

4.The introduction to Donny, the interview, taped, ten years earlier, his brutality, age, appearance (and whether he was telling the truth or not as revealed later)? The parole board, his rage, ten years in jail, three years and his angers, keeping him there? His own words? His saying he should not be paroled? His life in prison, the boxing, his friend, sexual relationship? Leaving? Without any attachments?

5.Keith and his friends, types, their bravado, violence, racism? Supporting Donny? Going to the club, his Uncle Joe, his outlook on life, offering the job, the bouncing work, prejudices against black customers? Donny and the girl, oral sex? Going home, Emma and the boy? The party? Meeting Cyril? His mother at bingo?

6.His settling down, the parole officer, meeting the angry policeman? George waiting outside the party, Keith and the threats? Donny and his keeping quiet, his guilt, wanting to do the right thing? Keith at the club, the warnings about not allowing the black customers in? The proposal of the boxing match? His uncle and the deal? The press confrontation, Ossie and his boasts, Donny and the sparring?

7.The picture of Charles, ten years of brain damage, his father reading to him, his mother upset, thinking that he could not understand? His life at home? Going to the church? Ossie at the church? The declaration of revenge, the bout as a revenge?

8.George, his grief for his son, relationship with his wife? Getting the gun, staying outside the party, Keith and the threats? His motivation? Listening to Ossie’s boast and vanity? His not wanting Charlie used for revenge? His visit to Donny, the suggestion about the training, sending him to the gym? The training, his taking over? Keith’s reaction? His wife’s reaction? The owner of the gym and his support? The regime for Donny’s training?

9.Donny, his home, relationship with his mother, with Cyril? Protecting Emma from Keith and his brutality? The sexual relationship? Giving her the tattoo?

10.The clash with Keith, shielding Emma? The bombing of the car at the club? The burning of the church as revenge? His uncle’s stances? Donny and his apology? Keith and his being bashed, his death? The truth about Keith’s being at Charlie’s bashing, Donny not telling the truth, shielding Keith? Donny’s visit to George? Telling him the truth?

11.Donny’s visit to the church, looking at the people, leaving? His visit to George, talking with Charles, the gun? Leaving the cheque? George’s wife and her threatening him with the gun? The build-up to the night of the bout, the TV, George and his family present, others watching on television?

12.The bout, the way that it was filmed, Donny’s strengths and weaknesses? Ossie’s expectations? Giving in to rage or not? The knockout or not? Donny fighting back? Ossie shocked? Donny’s achievement? Audience expectations? Charles going up into the arena, the chair thrown at him, the referee calling off the match? A moral victory for Donny?

13.The aftermath, leaving his gloves? His future, going to Emma?

14.The portrait of the gangs, their mentality, identity, racism, violence and revenge?

15.A film of understanding, decency and reconciliation?