Fight Like a Girl

Filmmaker Jill Morley begins her boxing documentary with a confession: “I know it's not your typical female fantasy, but I'm drawn to it in a sick way.” Morley's husband, Gary, believes that she uses boxing to work through issues that therapy can't touch. Morley's father, on the other hand, believes that “girls should be sweethearts,” but he helped inspire her by watching matches with her when she was younger. Morley spars at her local New York gym with Susan Merlucci, who introduces her to Kimberly Tomes, a professional who finds boxing “viscerally satisfying.” As an adoptee, Tomes, who is Asian, dealt with racist classmates, which spurred her desire to stand up for herself, while Merlucci describes herself as an “art school kid.” Her boyfriend—captain of the New York City Fire Department's boxing team—encouraged her to take up the sport. Merlucci hopes to win the 2007 Golden Gloves competition, since it's the last year she can compete (the cut-off age is 34). Morley also profiles Maureen “Moe” Shea, who served as Hilary Swank's sparring partner for Million Dollar Baby. Shea turned to boxing to look better for her abusive boyfriend, and stuck with it because it made her feel better about herself (and gave her the strength to ultimately leave him). For all four subjects, money remains an issue, since women's boxing doesn't pay much. They also grapple with depression and relationship issues, but the support they show each other seems as much a positive force in their lives as boxing. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)