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Knuckle

  • 20112011
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
25,680
1,392
Knuckle (2011)
A documentary shot over a 12-year period and centered on the secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle fighting. This film follows a history of violent feuding between rival clans.
Play trailer2:14
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DocumentaryBiographyDrama
An epic 12-year journey into the brutal and secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle fighting. This film follows a history of violent feuding between rival clans.An epic 12-year journey into the brutal and secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle fighting. This film follows a history of violent feuding between rival clans.An epic 12-year journey into the brutal and secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle fighting. This film follows a history of violent feuding between rival clans.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
25,680
1,392
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Ian Palmer
    • Stars
      • James Quinn McDonagh
      • Paddy Quinn McDonagh
      • Michael Quinn McDonagh
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Ian Palmer
    • Stars
      • James Quinn McDonagh
      • Paddy Quinn McDonagh
      • Michael Quinn McDonagh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 2:14
    U.S. Version

    Photos

    Knuckle (2011)
    Knuckle (2011)
    Knuckle (2011)
    Knuckle (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Quinn McDonagh
    Paddy Quinn McDonagh
    Michael Quinn McDonagh
    Ian Palmer
    • Narrator
    • Director
      • Ian Palmer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    They never went for the body
    Knuckle is a sad story about various factions of one family of Irish Travelers who settle decades-long animosity toward one another through bare-knuckle battles that take place in obscure areas across the Irish landscape. Modern technology plays a big role in their feud. The fights, that pit the toughest men in each of the families against one another, are filmed for immediate viewing by all competing families.

    Although the battles, billed as "fair fights" with impartial referees from non-combatant families, show the fighters giving their all, win or lose, it is the insulting and disparaging commentary, captured on film after the fights by the victors' clan members that fuel the feud for years to come. There are isolated shots of women and children. One woman, in particular, spoke at length about the need for all of this to come to an end. The greatest sadness in the film is the legacy that the feuding and fighting brings to the children who are doomed to follow in their dads and uncles footsteps, if not as fighters certainly as haters. One might conclude that these feuding families found a safer way of dealing with their hostility toward one another than shooting or stabbing.

    Filmed over a decade-long period from the mid-1990's to mid-2000's, viewers are offered only a glimmer of hope that things could change. But even this is marred by the reality that all it takes is a slight, an insult or a "dis" that could change things in a moment. As for the fighting itself, film-goers will see quite a few bloody battles, one with two out-of-shape grandfathers. But there is nothing to compare with professional boxing or mixed martial arts. These were pure street fights with some grabbing, gouging and biting (although all of that was cause for disqualification). As someone one who knows just enough about boxing I kept wondering, throughout all of the fights, why none of the combatants went for the body.
    helpful•11
    3
    • anjru
    • Dec 23, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Ireland
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • King of the Travellers
    • Production companies
      • Screen Ireland
      • BBC Storyville
      • Rise Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,647
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,647
      • Dec 11, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $24,655
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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