Christy

Director: David Michôd

Christy tells the story of Christy Salters, a woman who, while not creating female boxing, went a long way to having the sport been taken seriously. Played by Sydney Sweeney, it follows Christy’s discovery of the sport in 1989 to becoming a high paid star on the front cover of Sports Illustrated. But, it is not just her career that Salters had to fight. She has to hide her sexuality, and fight with an abusive relationship with Husband, James Martin (Ben Foster). A relationship that would almost cost her her life.

Christy has had mixed reviews, but it’s a film that worked well for me. 

It provides a good view of why she is important to her sport and the work she did to be taken seriously as an athlete.

But her story is more complex. Christy as a gay woman in the late 80’s, prejudice abounds, not only in the sport, but also in her private life, with a homophobic mother full of contempt for her daughter’s sexuality. But it is the abusive relationship with her husband James, where the film is at its darkest, building from subtle undertones, to a situation which almost costs her her life.

Sweeney puts in a strong performance, believable as both boxer and abused woman. She’s is well supported by Foster, Wever and Katy O’Brian.

If there is a criticism, it is the story that focuses more on its Rocky rise to the top than on the darkness of a relationship and its descent into violence. This is best summed up in a scene where Christy talks about the prolonged abusive relationship which jars when so late on it feels like it’s the first time hearing about it.

Christy, is a fascinating look at a woman who would define her sport. And while not perfect, it provides a compelling watch, led by Sydney Sweeney’s strong performance. It tells a Rocky-like story of a rise in a brutal sport, for a woman also fighting battles with her sexuality and an abusive relationship that almost costs her her life. And while it perhaps doesn’t get enough under the skin of that part of the story, it is still a compelling biopic of a strong woman, who deserves her story told.