The Cage Fighter

Every time he steps into the ring, Joe Carman endangers his marriage, risks losing custody of his kids, and puts his health on the line. Still, the 40-year-old pipefitter can't stop himself. Joe works all day, trains every night until he collapses, cares for his four adoring daughters (from two marriages), and, after his ailing wife goes to sleep, sneaks away to fight in mixed martial arts matches. Why does Joe do it? Even he doesn't quite understand. Shot over three years, Unay's gritty drama starts along a Rocky-like arc before veering into a contemporary tale of working-class strife and toughness. Unay strips any gloss from cage fighting - the battles between these parttime warriors are brutal, not glamorous - as he introduces us to a gentle, wounded soul who searches for validation, and meaning, in no-frills gyms. (True/False Film Festival)