Provide a hashtags for this: If you think being a boxer is an easy walk in the park, then it’s only fair to ask you to step into the ring and have your first real fight. One punch after another, you might call it quits. This applies to many, including myself, who do not fully appreciate boxing or see it as a sport worthy of higher admiration.

Starring Orlando Bloom, John Turturro, and Caitriona Balfe, “The Cut” draws the viewer into the unapologetic, ruthless, and harsh world of boxing, where losing is not just an option but often the likely outcome, because only one of the two combatants can overcome their fear to emerge victorious. The Boxer (Orlando Bloom), who has been enjoying retirement for ten years, must return to the ring for the fight of a lifetime. But before he can do that, he must make weight. As he embarks on a journey in a Las Vegas room, enduring an illegal and intense weight-cutting program, it becomes clear that the first fight he must win is with himself.

Orlando Bloom delivers an intense, powerful, and jaw-dropping performance that elevates the life of the boxer to new heights. Caitriona Balfe is equally compelling as a supportive wife and coach to her boxer husband. Our protagonist tells her, “We either do it together or not at all.” But she is the one who must decide whether to pull him out of the bodily torture he imposes upon himself. Sean Ellis, as a filmmaker, stands out with his vision and the way he captures the essence of a strong soul gradually weakened by wrong choices.

It is a remarkable film, and I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to see it at TIFF. Frankly, it stayed with me long after it was over. This is not a conventional sports drama; one would have to be heartless and cold-blooded not to appreciate what is depicted and how it evolves over time. Scary? Yes. Inspiring? Not so much. Why? Why would someone agree to damage their own body when their life is at stake? For what? For a title? Is it worth it? You and I may not understand it, but once we put ourselves in the shoes of a boxer, the picture becomes clearer.

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