SPOILER FREE REVIEW

The true story of Christy Martin has landed at TIFF for its world premiere, with the entire cast — and Christy Martin herself (now Christy Salters) — in attendance.

The audience roared with emotional applause as the end credits rolled, and surely, most people in that room thought the same thing: Sidney Sweeney is coming for that Oscar.

From director David Michôd (The King), the film chronicles 20 years in the life of Christy (Sidney Sweeney) — from her humble beginnings as a “coal miner’s daughter,” to her rise through the ranks of professional boxing under the sinister watch of her coach and husband, James V. Martin (Ben Foster). It’s a disturbing look at domestic violence, unraveling through James’ control of Christy from the age of 18 well into her adult life.

Michôd’s direction is tense and brutal, often lingering on Christy’s sadness and prolonged suffering, while those closest to her ignore the obvious and reap the rewards.

This is also a story about sexuality. Christy has a romantic relationship with another woman, Sherry Lusk (Jess Gabor), and is immediately confronted by her own mother, who claims the relationship is neither normal nor natural. During her abusive marriage to James, it’s Sherry that Christy fell back on. Christy also found unexpected joy in Lisa Holewyne (Katy O'Brian), who once fought her in the ring before becoming a sparring partner — and later, her wife. These smaller, more intimate moments reveal the real Christy, reminding us that the loudmouth boxing persona was, in fact, an act.

Sweeney delivers the best performance of her career as Christy Martin. Whether in grueling, physically draining fights in the ring, in the emptiness she feels after another day of abuse, or in her tender private moments, she solidifies her place in the 2026 Oscar race for Best Actress.

On the other side, Ben Foster’s portrayal of James V. Martin is chilling. As the abuser, he manipulates everyone — including Christy’s own family — to get on his side throughout years of torment. Exploiting Christy in every possible way to make a buck, he ultimately becomes something far darker, with seeds planted from the moment we first meet him. Foster’s performance is horrifying in its precision.

The score by Antony Partos amplifies these themes with haunting string progressions, letting moments of dread breathe between the beats.

The film sometimes feels rushed, condensing 20 years into 90 minutes, but when the devastating climax arrives, it becomes clear why the story was told this way.

‘Christy’ is a warning that domestic abuse is still happening around the world. It’s also a film about overcoming the impossible, driven home by Sweeney’s outstanding performance.

Our score: ★★★★☆
(out of 5 stars)

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