I rented the movie reluctantly as I dont like the boxing movies or fighting kind of stuff. However as soon as I started watching it, I realized immediately that this was no oridinary stuff.
This is a very well etched and well constructed movie made and directed by the legend Clint Eastwood who himself plays a pivotal role of a boxing trainer. He trains different fighter and the main fighter he is training ditches him when it is time for big money. Disheartened by this, he is feeling depressed. This is when a female budding boxer, urges him to train her and be her manager too. This lady is different as she is loyal to him completely as ois very motivated. He does not want to train her in the beginning however finally gives in. In his personal life, he has a got some strained relationship with his daughter, who he writes letters regularly but never gets a return mail.
The female boxer/trainee improves rapidly, and knocks out everyone in the first round mostly. She in her personal life is very devoted to her mother and other relations who are like leeches only interested in her money.
She eventually gets her big fight, when she almost has knocked out the competitor, however the other boxer fearing a lost, knocks her out when she is looking other way during the break. This fractures her C1-C2 which leaves her paralyzed below the neck. She could not even breathe on her own anymore. She now has a very miserable life where her family again comes to get whatever is left in her account. She cannot move anymore and slowly looses limbs and gets pressure ulcers.
She has a final request to her mentor to relieve her from her misery and disconnect the artificial support. This is devastating for Clint Eastwood how now treats her as his own daughter. However knowing that when she has decided she is very adamant, he disconnects her artificial support and then leaves somewhere never to come back.
I would give Clint Eastwood full marks for his excellent direction and excellent acting. I dont think anyone else could have done it better. The end leaves a big lump in your throat.