Small, Slow But Steady(HKAFF 2022)

On paper, the story of boxer Keiko Ogasawara has the makings of a rousing commercial blockbuster, but director Sho Miyake’s semi-fictional adaptation of her remarkable autobiography is instead a delicate and quietly moving character study about a fighter who has to overcome her internal struggles to keep on fighting. Despite battling lifelong deafness, Keiko (Yukino Kishii, in an amazing performance) has managed to turn pro and obtain a winning record. But as her mentor faces health issues and her gym faces imminent closure due to the pandemic, Keiko finds her will to keep fighting starting to wane.