The Fire Inside sets itself apart from other sports films because of its emphasis on what happens when you reach the mountaintop and it’s not at all as you imagined. And it’s fitting that this narrative is at the center of a film about a Black girl chasing the American Dream. When Claressa is asked by the National Boxing Association to move to a facility to train for another gold, while earning three times less than her male counterparts, she declines. She has a family to care for, but also, she knows her worth. It’s inspiring and frustrating to watch Claressa navigate poverty while her gold medal collects dust. The film gets into the inequality that female athletes face without being too preachy. Through subtle moments, we’re reminded that women are meant to be perceived as “feminine” (especially if you hit people in the face for a living) in order to be palatable and that Black women face impenetrable barriers to success, despite being the best. As you watch Claressa’s struggle in the third act, you see Serena Williams, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Angel Reese, and so many other Black women athletes who have been unfairly judged, belittled, and bullied, in her story. And when she triumphs, it’s beautiful and emotional, but also a reminder of how much bullshit Black women athletes have to go through. The Fire Inside is a love letter to Black women, how our resilience isn’t inherent or something to simply be expected, it’s borne out of necessity and unjust treatment.
