Review by Nik Mohan

Anthony Wonke's 'In The Shadows' may follow a familiar sporting formula, but Jasmine Jobson's commanding performance and an extraordinary true story elevate this moving biographical drama into something far more meaningful than another tale of triumph inside the boxing ring.

In 'In The Shadows', director Anthony Wonke explores the remarkable life of Somali-British boxer Ramla Ali, whose journey towards sporting history involves confronting cultural expectations, family tensions, personal trauma, and the pressure of pursuing a dream that those closest to her struggle to understand.

Led by an exceptional Jasmine Jobson, the film offers an emotionally engaging portrait of ambition and identity. While its narrative occasionally relies on familiar sporting conventions, 'In The Shadows' finds its greatest strength in the complicated relationships surrounding its central character.

Based on Ali's life, the film follows a young woman whose family fled Somalia's civil war and eventually settled in London. Growing up within a traditional Muslim household, Ramla is expected to pursue a respectable career and embrace the future her parents envision for her. But our protagonist’s passion for boxing gradually transforms into an ambition she can’t ignore.

For Ramla, boxing becomes a means of reclaiming control over her life and establishing an identity beyond the expectations imposed upon her — and that freedom comes at an emotional cost. Unable to openly discuss her ambitions with her family, she begins training in secret, adding to the mounting tension between personal fulfilment and familial loyalty.

Rather than portraying Ramla's family as straightforward antagonists, Wonke explores how love, fear, tradition, and unresolved trauma can become intertwined. Hodan Yusuf brings considerable emotional depth to the role of Ramla's mother, whose protective instincts sometimes prevent her from recognising her daughter's needs. Their complicated relationship provides some of the film's most affecting moments.

At the centre of everything is Jasmine Jobson, delivering a performance of remarkable conviction. Best known for 'Top Boy', Jobson brings an intensity to Ramla that feels entirely authentic, balancing physical determination with emotional vulnerability. Her portrayal is particularly compelling during the training sequences, where the exhaustion and discipline of competitive boxing are convincingly communicated. She is equally effective in quieter moments, revealing Ramla's internal struggles through subtle expressions and uncomfortable silences.

Finn Cole provides a welcome supporting presence as Richard, who becomes an important source of encouragement as Ramla's ambitions grow. Meanwhile, Gershwyn Eustache Jr introduces a more troubling dimension as Clinton, a trainer whose initially supportive attitude gradually becomes controlling. Both relationships reinforce the film's exploration of personal autonomy and the difficulty of distinguishing genuine support from manipulation.

Wonke, making his narrative feature debut after an extensive documentary career, approaches the material with a grounded visual sensibility. The boxing sequences avoid unnecessary spectacle, instead capturing the repetitive routines, physical punishment, and emotional isolation associated with competitive sport. There is an appropriately unglamorous quality to Ramla's progression, where success comes through persistence rather than convenient moments of inspiration.

Ursula Rani Sarma's screenplay occasionally follows a predictable trajectory, with familiar moments of conflict and personal breakthrough. Some supporting characters could benefit from greater development, while recurring flashbacks to Ramla's childhood in Somalia, although important to understanding her family's trauma, occasionally interrupt the narrative's momentum.

The film succeeds by placing greater emphasis on Ramla's personal journey than her sporting achievements. Every step forward requires her to renegotiate her relationship with her family and sense of belonging.

Ali's eventual achievement of becoming the first boxer to represent Somalia at the Olympic Games in 2021 gives the story additional significance, highlighting the importance of representation and the barriers faced by women within professional sport.

There is an undeniable emotional sincerity to 'In The Shadows'. Wonke understands that the most rewarding sports films are rarely about trophies themselves, but the sacrifices and personal transformations that make those achievements meaningful.

Make no mistake, this is Jasmine Jobson's film. Her commanding performance elevates what could have been a more conventional biopic into a genuinely affecting character study.

Our score: ★★★★☆

'In The Shadows' premiered at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival and arrives in UK and Irish cinemas on 30 October 2026.