The Boxer

The Boxer is a powerful and emotionally charged drama that follows the story of Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis), a former Irish pugilist and Provisional IRA member who returns home to Belfast after serving a 14-year prison sentence. Weary of the endless cycle of violence in Northern Ireland, Danny attempts to rebuild his life and start anew. He reconnects with his old flame Maggie (Emily Watson), who is now married to an imprisoned IRA man, and opens a non-sectarian boxing club for boys in an old gymnasium. However, Danny's actions infuriate Harry (played by Ian Hart), a ruthless IRA lieutenant who sees Danny's relationship with Maggie as a way to undermine the authority of her father Joe Hamill, played by Gerard McSorley), the local IRA commander who is working for peace. Harry feuds with Danny, culminating in a riot at one of Danny's boxing matches, during which the gymnasium is burnt down. As tensions escalate, Harry and his IRA comrades kidnap Danny and prepare to execute him. In a heart-stopping twist, the IRA gunman shoots Harry instead of Danny, saving Danny's life but also highlighting the futility and tragedy of the cycle of violence that has consumed their lives. With her son Liam in tow, Maggie picks up Danny and they drive home together, symbolizing hope and resilience in this critically acclaimed film directed by Jim Sheridan.

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Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Boxer include Where the Heart Is, Life Is Beautiful, Meet Joe Black, Forrest Gump, A Walk to Remember, Legends of the Fall.

The Boxer was released in theaters on December 31, 1997.