If you can get to the Roxie this
holiday season you’ll be treated to a master at work. Gym rats especially
should devour Frederick Wiseman’s study of a working class Austin, Texas Boxing
Gym.
The 80-year-old Wiseman – who has
spent a half century applying a sixteen mm camera to the examination of
American institutions (High School, Hospital, Juvenile Court) – dropped in
on a Austin institution: founded by ex-pro boxer Richard Lord, the facility
welcomes members from every walk of life: we see a mom with an epileptic son
ask Lord if the kid can train without sustaining a seizure inducing head injury
(the answer, of course); a well built college student, a culinary major
sporting a fresh shiner, asks Lord to put him on a self defense regimen; a
balding ring vet, psyching himself for a last fight, coaches a novice; Lord’s
hosts a large contingent of women, both single and working moms who park their
kids near the weight bag.
Thirty minutes into the narration
free tour a young Hispanic man asks a twenty-something white guy, with spiky
hair and a cutoff t-shirt sporting the slogan “Edge” in bold letters, about the
gym’s mantra.
“It’s so funny because people view
it as a violent sport – granted we’re mainly focused on hitting each other and
aiming for places that would really knock somebody out, but everybody here is
super nice and friendly.”
“I see that already.”
“And anybody who does come in here
acting tough ass don’t last very long – it’s just like, dude, it’s just not
that kind of atmosphere.”
Boxing Gym is visual catnip
for serious doc students – Wiseman lets the pictures do the talking with camera
shots that slice across layers of workouts from women sweating out a new sports
bra to blubbery middle age men. For wannabe pugilists: there are tips on
everything from working the speed bag, to proper footwork for launching an
uppercut to the maintenance of a good mouthpiece. (Roxie through December 28th)