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DRC Survivor's Boxing Journey Inspires Hope
20 May
Summary
- Teen survivor of sexual violence finds strength in boxing.
- Film highlights resilience amidst horrific wartime atrocities.
- Real-life coach's tragic death revealed in end credits.
A compelling new film from the Democratic Republic of the Congo showcases the strength of young Ama Qamata as a teenage survivor of sexual violence. Discovered by a boxing coach on the streets of Goma, her journey from slave-like mine conditions to the boxing ring forms the heart of this earnest drama.
The movie unflinchingly portrays the brutal realities faced by women and girls, yet it centers on their resilience. Filmed on the actual streets of Goma, the footage offers a raw and authentic edge to Safi's story, interspersed with flashbacks revealing her past.
Training under coach Balezi "Kibimango" Bagunda, Safi becomes part of a female boxing team. While the boxing sequences follow familiar tropes, the cast's performances, many with lived experience of wartime atrocities, provide significant emotional power.
A devastating revelation in the end credits shares that Kibimango was tragically killed in 2025 while evacuating children from an orphanage, underscoring the ongoing dangers.
