What can we learn from “Fightville,” a documentary from the team that made “Gunners Palace” about a minor-league circuit of professional mixed-martial arts fighting?
The obvious takeaway from this film by Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker is that life within this sport of violence has tamed the beast within a one-time small-time juvie thug named Dustin Poirier. Once a hoodlum headed for a life of prison and small-time crime, Poirier instead embraced a brutal workout ethic and a tough mental approach to fighting – and has become a rising star in the MMA world.
This film captures him just as he’s about to move up to the major leagues. He works out constantly, talking about refocusing his priorities once he found fighting as an outlet.
This review continues on my website.