2022 Directed by Welby Ings
Jim is preparing for his first professional fight but begins to rethink his life's trajectory and his sexuality after tangling with Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his days in an old shack down by the beach.
Löök, Удар, 拳击男孩, 拳拳到慾, 펀치
New Zealand
New Zealand International Film Festival
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
South Korea
Seoul International Pride Film Festival
Estonia
USA
Germany16
USA
UK15
UK15
Estonia
Germany
Hong Kong
New Zealand
South Korea
UK
USA
This was a sweet little NZ film. Beautifully filmed and the two leads really did seem to share a great connection.
The movie at times gets a little cheesy and cliche, but all in all, it’s a sweet and well-meaning movie with good intentions. A nice cast who all deliver good work. Just an easy watch, nothing overly special but I don’t feel anything negatively about it whatsoever.
Look I don't think I can be objective cos the director nearly made me cry in the Q&A afterwards talking about the death of his partner from AIDS. This isn't, you know, exceptional, but the straights have had by the numbers movies for forever so I'm gonna cut a lot of slack. Queer representation matters, and especially rural Aotearoa queer representation.
I just... I just can't wait for the day where LGBTQIA+ and Māori cinema isn't automatically full of trauma. That'll be the day eh.
"Got the lube e hoa" is a phenomenonal line though.
Score : 4.9/10 ✅
This movie is guilty of trying to be so many things without fulfilling a single idea to its fullest. Even if it’s full of good intentions and I respect the long process to bring off Punch a reality on the big screen, because yes, it has taken a long time to be made, (14 years in the making, to be precise) it’s becoming apparent, after consuming it, that Punch lacks a certain…punch to it.
I personally enjoyed how it stays inclusive and real. And also the way the main character is constantly trying to chase this fear of ‘seeing as vulnerable’ while understanding his own identity.
Perhaps with 1 – Better execution and 2- Tuning down…
I hate to be so harsh, there is some good stuff here, but this film is cliche after cliche after cliche, both in the story lining and the dialogue.
The films strength is the uniqueness that comes from having gay Maori representation on screen, and while I don't think I'd step to call it tokenism, there is a bit of a disconnect between it and the rest of the story.
Tim Roth does a great job with what he is given, but his character is mishandled and underutilised.
I'm glad we are getting films like this, but hopefully it is only onwards and upwards from here. Not only did this need a bit of a re-edit, but it needed a few more rewrites.
Unfocused, messy, well shot, great dialogue, bad dialogue, sexy, dull. Mid? But compelling setting and random but exciting Tim Roth performance.
Conan Hayes is an actor to kep an eye on, and his story in the film, backed up by his performance is the most compelling. Disconcerting having seen Tim Roth the night before in Resurrection in this, with a considerably more sympathetic character. Also the beach landscapes are shot with a great eye for their beauty.
I don't think this balances the two story lines well and they both kind of fizzle at the end, but props to one of the cutest and most realistic "first kiss" scenes. It captures that excitement and nervousness so authentically that, even though the film teeters, you're really invested in Jim and Whetu's relationship.
Pride Month watch 26/60
