Facing Ali

(96 mins)

Producer: Derik Murray
Cinematographers: Ian Kerr, CSC
Editor: Jesse James Miller
Cast: Muhammad Ali, George Chuvalo, Sir Henry Cooper, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Ernie Terrell
Music: Schaun Tozer

• Trailer

Gorgeously shot against the rich reds and browns of boxing rings, gyms and arenas, Facing Ali tells the stories of ten men who faced the charismatic, fast-talking dynamo some believe was the greatest fighter of all time: Muhammad Ali.

Using dynamic graphics and gorgeous archival footage to quickly set down the facts of Ali’s life and career, McCormick delves into the history of each contest and the boxer who fought it. Forgoing testimony from sportswriters and celebrity fans, McCormack lets these ten men tell their story and Ali’s entirely in their own words.

The history they reveal is unexpectedly moving. The chance to fight Ali was life changing, and many acknowledge that boxing is a profession of last resort for the poor. The film also reveals the darker side of the confidence and drive that helped made Ali the hero he is but also may have kept him in the ring longer than he should have stayed. As one of his opponents notes, “You can lose your life giving the people what they want to see.”

Host African Marketplace, Inc./NAACP Hollywood Bureau

Sponsored By:

American Airlines

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