Directed by Ameesha Joshi & Anna Sarkissian
Filmed for six years, With This Ring follows India's remarkable female boxing team and provides an inside look at the challenges they face ¨C gender discrimination, pressure to conform to traditional roles, and lack of recognition by the public despite dominating the international boxing scene.
There is an unknown, intricate world of women's boxing within India. Starting their project in 2006, Ameesha Joshi and Anna Sarkissian capture over 200 hours of footage to create an intimate portrayal of India's best female boxers to narrate the stories of India's best female boxers, Mary Kom and Sarita Devi, and Chhoto Loura. All three have successfully placed in world championships, notably Mary Kom who is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, and the third woman in history to win an Olympic medal for India.
Despite winning international championships, Mary, Sarita and Chhoto are looked down upon by their male counterparts and traditional families. Gender discrimination is already prominent throughout the country, so there is no surprise that women's boxing is neglected by its people. Their parents are reluctant to embrace their chosen careers because they are worried that boxing will disfigure their faces and hurt their chances of getting married. Facing pressure to conform, the women test boundaries as they become the primary wage earners in their families.
Each character faces unique challenges as boxing becomes a crucial part of their identities. From incredible highs to heartbreaking lows, Joshi and Sarkissian uncover the deep infrastructure surrounding women's boxing to bring viewers an inspirational and complex documentary.
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