Fighter

Has there ever been a Turkish-flavored Danish Kung Fu film? Thanks to Fighter the answer to that question is “yes”.  Beyond being a rather unique item, it’s also a really good film, full of beautifully shot and choreographed martial arts and a strong story.

Most martial art films are based around the action; the plot often exists merely as a means to convey things from one action scene to the next. It’s always nice to see a movie that takes the opposite approach, starting out with a good story and then adding action.

Aicha (Semra Turan) is a teenage girl growing up in Denmark. Her family are traditional Turkish Muslims. Aicha’s been studying Kung Fu at an after-school class for a while, but her teacher encourages her to seek out a more intensive Kung Fu club. The problem: the club isn’t just for girls. Her father not only forbids her to attend such a club, but tells her that she must stop practicing Kung Fu at all. But a girl who spends her time furtively watching tapes of Bruce Lee and practicing her moves isn’t ready to give up on her dreams so easily. Although the club’s sifu (teacher) initially attempts to turn her away, her persistence earns her a shot at joining the club, and her untapped potential earns her the spot.

As she begins training seriously, Aicha starts to struggle with juggling school, family obligations and training, on top of hiding her dedication to her forbidden pastime from her family. There are also culture clashes between her traditional Turkish upbringing and family and her friends and acquaintances from Denmark.

One of the things that makes Fighter stand out is its handling of these issues. Aicha pays a steep price for pursuing her dreams, unlike many films—especially films about teenagers—where such issues are glossed over. It adds a layer of bittersweet reality to the film.

The martial arts in the film are gorgeously shot and very well choreographed (by Xian Gao, who also plays the role of sifu).  I was very surprised to see fight and stuntwork of this caliber come out of Denmark, and everyone involved should be proud of their work. There’s even a fun parkour-style running/jumping/climbing sequence.

It’s unusual to see a film that combines serious drama about growing up, culture-clashes, family, and teen romance manage to be both charming and real.  It's quite rare to see a martial arts film with those qualities. Fighter is definitely worth seeking out.