Bayonet
Common Sense says
- NR
- 2019
- 101 minutes
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Bayonet is a 2018 drama set in Finland about a Mexican boxer who quits fighting after a brutal bout leaves him questioning the ethics and decency of the fight game. Hitting and bleeding in the ring are shown. A man dies after a vicious fight. A fighter with neurological problems is said to have killed himself. Drug use is shown. Adults smoke cigarettes and have sex, although no nudity is shown. A man's behind is seen briefly. "F--k," "s--t," and "damn" are used frequently.
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What's the story?
BAYONET is a 2018 Finnish drama (with English subtitles) about Miguel (Luis Gerardo Mendez), a Mexican former Olympic champion boxer who quits fighting after a brutal bout leaves him questioning the ethics and decency of the fight game. Depression leads to drug use and drinking and breaks up his family. He gets a job training contenders in Finland, a tough adjustment for a guy from sunny Tijuana. The desire to make amends with his wife and support his daughter from afar drives him to return to the ring, but that effort gets botched when he learns the fight he's in is fixed.
Is it any good?
This film could be cut by an hour and still deliver the same tepid rumination on boxing. Many other such dramas have done the job quicker and better, including Raging Bull and the Rocky series. Key information that would help the audience understand the protagonist's anguish are not disclosed until 80 minutes into a 101-minute film. Important characters remain undeveloped and more or less disposable. A lot of plot turns are left unexplained. Why are some fights stopped immediately and others allowed to go on until someone is badly hurt?
What's indisputable is the riveting performance given by Mendez as the tortured fighter, turning something otherwise forgettable into something watchable. Bayonet is appropriate only for teens old enough to understand why people might want to subject themselves to the risks of violent and competitive sports.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about sports like boxing and football, in which participants can receive damaging blows to the head. Do you think such sports should be allowed for kids? For adults?
Why do you think people enjoy participating in and watching sports? What do you think is at the root of our fascination?
Why do you think Miguel returns to boxing in Bayonet? Do you think he regrets that decision?
Movie details
- On DVD or streaming: March 29, 2019
- Cast: Luis Gerardo Méndez, Ilkka Koilvula, Laura Birn, Ville Virtanen
- Director: Kizza Terrazas
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 19, 2019
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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