We all know the formula for a sports movie by now. A scrappy underdog with a chip on their shoulder overcomes incredible odds with the help of a dedicated coach to win the big title. That’s not a criticism, it’s a formula that works time and time again to leave audiences with a good feeling. But what makes The Fire Inside unique is that its story doesn’t stop with that winning moment, instead showing how winning is not necessarily a cure for all of life’s problems.
The Fire Inside is based on the life of Claressa Shields, who as a 17-year-old won the Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 2012 games. Shields did so overcoming poverty and a troubled childhood in Flint, Michigan. But even after her Olympic glory, she found she had to take up a new fight as life’s struggles — primarily the lack of financial opportunity for a female athlete in a male-centric sport — continued to land its punches.
