Punch (2002)

Dr. Sam Frizzell lives alone with his eighteen year old daughter Ariel Frizzell in the upper middle class Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. Sam has dated little since his wife died when ... See full summary »

Director:

Guy Bennett

Writer:

Guy Bennett

Stars:

Michael Riley, Sonja Bennett, Meredith McGeachie

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael Riley	...	Sam
Sonja Bennett	...	Ariel
Meredith McGeachie	...	Julie
Marcia Laskowski	...	Mary
Vincent Gale	...	Irwin
Kathryn Kirkpatrick	...	Beth
Don Ackerman	...	Markus
Sarah Lind	...	Liz
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Customer
Mercedes de la Zerda	...	Tanya
Dorota Dragan	...	Muscle Woman
Andrea Nazareno	...	Vicky

Storyline

Dr. Sam Frizzell lives alone with his eighteen year old daughter Ariel Frizzell in the upper middle class Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. Sam has dated little since his wife died when Ariel was a young child, he instead focusing his attentions on his daughter. With the exception of sex, Ariel has almost become a surrogate wife for Sam. Ariel, on the other hand, has taken that role one step further, she who has an Electra complex. Ariel has had behavior issues, in large part due to the circumstances around her mother's death and the way Sam has treated her since. As such, she has no real friends and she is home schooled by a tutor - a young man named Markus who often cannot control his student - as she couldn't function within a school environment. Into their lives comes Mary. As their third date, Sam thinks it would be a good idea for Mary to come to his house to meet Ariel. Mary's already tenuous dating life takes a step backward when Ariel is openly hostile toward Mary over ...

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Plot Keywords:

boxing | leg spreading | female boxing | vagina spreading | black comedy | 

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Taglines:

Who Needs Anger Management?

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, nudity and sexual content

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 February 2003 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brightlight Pictures, Téléfilm Canada, British Columbia Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Mr. and Mrs. Bennett All our Volunteers

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Connections

References The X-Files (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Where Did I Leave My Heart"
by Danny Mack
Danny Mack/SOCAN

User Reviews

Great Canadian Feature

It's easy to over-look the real issues in the film Punch when it contains such outrageous plot element as female topless boxing, but that would be a mistake. The film is more about the relationship between father and daughter, about dealing with loss, anger, and reclaiming one's emotional self.

The script is well-written and the performances are real. There is a real risk of it turning into melodrama but director Guy Bennett does a good job preventing that by keeping the characters and situations real.

The film deals with many complex issues but does not ruin it by trying to provide us with answers to everything but simply presents them and leaving the rest to the audience. That takes guts... as it does when one makes a film with female topless boxing and wishes to be taken seriously.