The Fire Inside

Chronicling the extraordinary journey of Claressa Shields (Destiny Ryan), the Flint-born boxer who made history as the only American to win two Olympic gold medals in boxing, The Fire Inside – Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut, based on a script by Barry Jenkins – delivers a bold twist halfway through its 109-minute runtime. It doesn’t end with her first victory, even though it reaches what feels like a biopic’s natural conclusion – 17 years old, defying insurmountable odds, standing triumphant on the world stage after barely qualifying at the Olympic trials just two months earlier. Instead, the film resists the temptation to end with Shields standing victorious in the ring and takes an unexpected turn, following Shields back to her hometown, where the glory of Olympic gold clashes with the grim, unyielding realities of life in a city long left behind by the American Dream. 

Returning to high school, Shields faces a jarring contrast between her historic success and the limited opportunities afforded to a female athlete deemed unmarketable, navigating a world that offers few tangible rewards for her extraordinary achievements. The second half of The Fire Inside takes viewers beyond the medal ceremonies, showing what happens when the roar of the crowd fades and the bills come due. Shields’s return to Flint – an environment still grappling with systemic neglect and poverty – serves as a stark reminder that even extraordinary success and Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry), her supportive coach and guardian, cannot shield her from hardship. In a poignant and gut-wrenching moment, Shields attempts to barter her gold medal for cash, crystallising the gap between her triumphs and her circumstances.

Without venturing beyond the borders of Flint, Morrison’s direction, coupled with Jenkins’s writing, delves into the myths surrounding the American Dream. Shields’s hometown is portrayed with a raw, unvarnished touch, transforming it into more than just a setting – it becomes a symbol of the systemic inequities that Shields must navigate at every turn. The camera captures this duality with breathtaking precision. The empty streets of the ghost town, frozen by the Michigan winter, are filmed on location to authentically capture Shields’s roots. Though many streetlights are broken, the city is brightly illuminated by the strength of its people – Shields, her loved ones, and the community gathered in backyards and bars to witness her Olympic victory. The city’s water crisis remains an unspoken backdrop, and the narrative centres on the lived experiences of Shields and those around her, ultimately presenting a deeply human story that transcends headlines, offering a poignant reflection on resilience and hope.

Christina Yang

The Fire Inside is released nationwide on 7^th February 2025.

Watch the trailer for The Fire Inside here: