admin
22 December 2023
Every now and then, a major television network makes the very bold move of airing a film, uninterrupted. That means no commercial breaks. Typically, the films chosen are major motion pictures that almost guarantee a fairly enormous viewer turnout.
But what are the chances of a major network giving the same sort of commercial-free airing to an independent documentary you might never have heard of, about a boxer you might not ever have heard of, made by two filmmakers whose names you might not recognize?
Very good.
The USA Network is graciously doing you the favor of a lifetime, and airing Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story, uninterrupted, on Wednesday, April 20th, 9 PM EST/PST.
That means you need to be in front of a TV that night, watching the gift that the USA Network is giving you.
Ring of Fire is easily one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen in my almost three decades alive. It’s a very honest, fairly unbiased telling of Griffith’s very unique, fairly complex life. No wonder Sundance officially recognized it.
At the heart of his life story is the moment in 1962 when, during a championship bout, he unintentionally killed his opponent, Benny \"The Kid\" Paret. That single, grave moment is what every other detail in his life revolves around.
Was the incident fueled by derogatory remarks Paret made about Griffith’s suspected homosexuality, which was an extremely taboo lifestyle in that era? Or was it the result of internal injuries already set in motion during the exceptionally brutal beating Paret took from another opponent in his previous match? What happened to Griffith in the years after that fateful match? How did it affect him? And did he make amends with Paret’s wife and son?
Do yourself a favor and let the film answer those questions for you. The best stories are the ones you never expect to hear, and when they’re told by masters of the art of storytelling, it’s something not to be missed.
artid
3082
Old Image
7_8_ringoffire.jpg
issue
vol 7 - issue 08 (apr 2005)
section
entertainmental