On the Ropes

Winner of a Special Jury Award at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen's Oscar-nominated documentary follows three boxing hopefuls at the New Ben-Stuy Boxing Center, a Brooklyn hole-in-the-wall run by Harry Keitt, ex-boxer and one time sparring partner of Muhammad Ali. As Harry drives through the projects, he allows that while he did his share of time behind bars, "if this neighborhood could talk, I could still get in trouble." Today, he's a huggie bear kind of guy who not only works his fighters hard but continually pours moral reinforcements into their hearts and minds. As they work toward the Golden Gloves Tournament, the trio of boxers profiled here need more than just help on their left hooks and rope a dope moves: high schooler Noel Santiago lacks the necessary fire to excel as a boxer, but Harry's real worry is that he's a smart kid ditching classes; Tyrene Manson is energy and commitment personified, but Tyrene's facing a court date for charges of selling crack cocaine out of her crowded house where she lives with her addicted AIDS suffering uncle; and George Walton, the kid who's got all four S's--strength, speed, stamina, and savvy--is being wooed away from Harry by a smooth-talking promoter full of promises. On the Ropes is a gutsy, moving yet unsentimental, behind the scenes look at hopes and dreams, realized and dashed. Highly recommended. [Note: High schools might also want to consider for the powerful stories told here, keeping in mind that the film features raw language.] Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)