The article is written by Marta Korycka, a journalist at Gazeta.pl.
At the start, we’re told that this story could have really happened. The creators don’t tell the tale of any specific person, but both the title card at the beginning and the end of the movie remind us that many Poles left Poland before 1989. And they didn’t always achieve the success and dreams they had of the West, which is also the case for our protagonist. No spoilers here! Our boxer says right at the start of the film that he "screwed up," and then the film flashes back in time to show how it all unfolded.
"Boxer" Is a Blend of Every Sports and Immigrant Film You've Ever Seen
Jędrzej and his wife escape communist Poland for England because he wants to become the greatest boxer in history. After months of training without securing a fight, he agrees to participate in a rigged match, which - as the film's description states - "will change his life forever". We first meet him as the son of a boxer. And although his father was neither an exemplary parent (insert the stereotypical image of a man from the communist-era Silesia) nor successful in his career, Jędrzej is drawn to the ring (of course!). Years later, he meets a beautiful and intelligent (naturally!) woman who initially doesn’t want to talk to him, but… we encounter another cliché. I won’t spoil the entire plot, but if you’re expecting something, you’ll likely find it in "Boxer."
The script by Mitja Okorn and Lucas Coleman is a collection of every sports film and immigrant story about chasing the "American Dream" (here, the British version) you’ve ever seen. And yes, it’s watchable because we enjoy what we know. But "Boxer" brings nothing new to either genre. In fact, if you look at Kawulski’s previous films, who hands over directorial duties to Okorn here but remains in the producer's chair, it feels like you’re watching the same story again.
First, There Was "How I Became a Gangster", Now It's "How I Became a Boxer"
Do you remember the time when few people knew we'd be stuck at home for months? On January 3, 2020, Maciej Kawulski’s film How I Became a Gangster: A True Story premiered in theaters. In less than a month, it drew over a million viewers to cinemas, surpassing the success of his directorial debut Underdog, which was, coincidentally, also about a boxer. "Kawulski knows exactly what kind of films he wants to make," I wrote back then.
In the title role was Marcin Kowalczyk, known for his role as Magik in You Are God, who also served as the narrator of the film. The creators approached the film as a literal story about the life of a guy who was one of the 'soldiers' of the Pruszków mafia before making his own way. It was an interesting approach
I noted at the premiere of How I Became a Gangster. We have a narrator here too — Jędrzej. The similarity is evident in the storytelling, editing, interweaving of musical tracks, color palette, and how the actors are directed. While Marcin Kowalczyk and Tomasz Włosok (who deservedly won an award for his role in How I Became a Gangster at the Gdynia Film Festival) are not in this film, Włosok will soon be seen playing a boxer in the film Kulej. Two Sides of the Medal, which might be one reason for the casting decisions. However, we do see Adam Woronowicz sporting one of the strangest wigs in recent Polish cinema (he played the father of the main character in the previous film), as well as Eryk Lubos, who also stepped into the ring in Underdog.
Netflix's New Film Delivers Exactly What You'd Expect
In Boxer, the lead role is played by Eryk Kulm (winner of the 2024 Eagle for Filip), alongside the excellent Adrianna Chlebicka. And even though the trailer promises a story about "those who sacrificed everything in pursuit of their dreams," it’s hard to fully root for Jędrzej and Adrianna to achieve their goals. They don’t necessarily want the same things. She has always wanted to stay in Poland, is afraid of the unknown, and is content with what she has. He, on the other hand, constantly wants more, but in his pursuit of fame, money, and acceptance, he sacrifices others rather than himself. He’s overly optimistic in his planning, filled with ambition but lacking awareness of real-life challenges, and immature. The filmmakers try to soften his image (with the story of his father and his uncle’s fate), but these attempts feel all too predictable. It may be difficult for viewers to empathize with him, despite his humor and charm. Most viewers will likely side with Adrianna.
Fans of intense boxing scenes will probably be satisfied - Kawulski has film experience in this area, having also worked with KSW. The fights are far from genteel, with splashes of blood sometimes landing right on the screen. But again, this isn’t anything new, as someone raised on Bloodsport (1988) can attest.
Having said all this, I still predict that Boxer will soon be number one in Poland's Netflix TOP10. It might even find an audience abroad, as it’s not great cinema, but it’s not terrible either. Most importantly, it doesn’t deceive the viewer - it gives exactly what you’d expect when choosing a film titled Boxer from a streaming service. With all the pros and cons that come with it.
