The world of boxing is a strange one to most of us. The world of women’s boxing is even stranger. I personally had no idea of the kind of commitment necessary down this avenue of sporting expression. I had thought, originally, that women started boxing just as a ‘See, we can do it too’ jab at men. Sorely mistaken Jules. This 72 minute documentary not only opened my eyes to boxing, but to the human beings that work their arses off to compete in it. Whilst these women could without doubt kick my arse, many interviewees within the film claim the women could kick just about anyone’s arse and I don’t doubt it.

Throughout the piece we climb the ranks with Lucia Rijker, the undefeated world champion in women’s boxing. Through Ms Rijker we witness the soul of a woman wholly dedicated to her (traditionally male) profession without ever losing her handle on being a woman, being feminine and most of all, being human. Compassionate toward her opponents and without pretension in herself, she is truly an inspirational champion and one obviously well-respected by the boxing fraternity.

Director Bankowsky has tried to peel away layers of preconception, first showing us fighters as we imagine them, then showing them away from the spotlight where we can see them in their natural environment. This certainly paints a different picture and helps clarify this rarely explored sporting field.

Whilst still sporting mixed feelings about boxing, I left this DVD feeling inspired by these women and their passion for what they do. To them it isn’t about beating the shit out of someone, it’s about being your best and - clichéd as it is - how you play the game.

Delivered in its theatrical aspect of 1.66:1 and not enhanced, this film still manages to look pretty good. Utilising many modern film techniques whilst still using older methods, Bankowski has put together a film that visually suits its subject matter right down to the canvas. There are instances of shaky hand-held camerawork, blacks and shadows being greenish or deep blue and flickering black and white, but all have been employed cleverly and infrequently to add the raw edge so necessary to this doco. There are also plenty of artefacts including full reel markers, but even these add to the graininess of the downtown gyms and boxing rings and help portray the underground essence of the film.

Sound has been well treated here and though only delivered in Dolby Digital stereo, it’s entirely adequate. The dialogue comes across very cleanly, although there are instances of tricky run-together sentences from a couple of accents. The sound effects have been recorded with the action, although I do suspect some stock punching noises have been used throughout. A band named Zoël have created the music for the film and this is another highlight of an already great documentary. Sometimes lilting and dreamy and at others hard and grotty, it is always used well and placed perfectly within context.

We are graced with but one extra feature and this is a three and a half minute Behind The Scenes with the director, Katya Bankowski. In this brief interview she speaks about her vision for the film and her feelings about boxing and provides some interesting insight into this peculiar choice of her first film.

Shadow Boxers is an impressive first film and one which is still compelling, regardless of your feelings toward the sport of boxing itself. Informative and sometimes amazing, this is a dynamite exploration of one of the least publicised sports in the world today. Knockout stuff.