JOURNEYMAN

Matty Burton is the current Middleweight champion. While successfully defending his title, Matty suffers brain damage: he has to learn how to speak again, is prone to outbursts of violence. It’s all too much for wife Emma but she does what she can to help him through his days.

Boxing has long served as a useful metaphor for filmmakers keen to marry the literal pugilism of the ring to bruising psychological struggles. This sophomore feature from actor-director Paddy Considine doesn’t throw its punches, welding thrilling fight action to a wearied sense of embattled grace.