Fight or Flight

Documentary feature Fight or Flight is the story of one man's epic journey to immerse himself in Thailand's Muay Thai boxing culture. The film's director is also its subject here, and the film encompasses his arrival in Thailand, months of training, his first and subsequent fights, travel and eventually his decision to go home. First and foremost, it is wonderful to see independent Irish filmmakers financing, producing and distributing their own projects, especially projects of this scale. From a cultural perspective, there are many fascinating moments in this film, moments that force the viewer to step back and re-evaluate their ideas of what is "right." There are also some very interesting ideas explored, regarding the motivation behind his need to fight alongside the human instinct towards violence. The disturbing repeated imagery of insects and war gives the film an altogether more sinister framework than the basic premise would itself suggest. Where this film falls down, however, is ultimately in its character development. Though McCarthy obviously comes on an enormous physical and emotional journey over the course of the film, his personality outside of this quest is not represented to great-enough effect. Remember: the director is also the film's subject, and at points it seems he may be too close to his own material. Part of his reason for embarking on this journey was a huge falling-out with his brother that left him with a great deal of pent-up anger and aggression. Unfortunately this is never expanded on, leaving the viewer struggling to care about him or his motivations. What you are left with is a film that may be very interesting to martial arts aficionados, but which lacks that vital hook for those that are not.