Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s movie is based on a real-life experience that Billy Moore described in his diary—a book that became a worldwide bestseller. Moore is a British ex-boxer who spent a part of his young life in Thailand, taking part in amateur fights and falling further and further into drug addiction. This landed him in a local prison, where he was faced with a choice: he could either give up and wait for death or fight to earn the respect of the other prisoners and, eventually, his freedom. He didn’t understand the local language, but he gradually overcame the communication barriers as he trained in Thai boxing in the ring. At first he was ridiculed, but he gradually gained acceptance through persistence and conscientiousness. It was the beginning of his long, rocky road to redemption. Sauvaire’s film, where brutal violence mixes with hope, proves that sports can break down all barriers. The director’s documentary-style portrayal of a Thai prison is truly impressive. The breathtaking fight sequences, as well as an astonishing performance by British rising star Joe Cole, make us feel the impact of every punch we see landing on the screen.