Knuckle
Director: Ian Palmer
Rating: 3.5/5
Knuckle has been a labour of love for filmmaker Ian Palmer has he has followed the Quinn McDonagh's and their feud with the Joyce's for twelve years.
Two men are driven to a quiet country lane close to Dundalk near the Irish border. Cars are used to block off access to the lane, less than ten other people are present.
They watch silently, as the two men walk to a clear area, strip to the waist and prepare for a bare-knuckle fistfight.
The rules are no biting, head-butting or below the belt punches. There are no rounds or breaks and the fight goes on until one man gives up or is knocked out.
James Quinn McDonagh and Paddy ‘The Lurcher' Joyce are there to represent their feuding Traveller clans.
Although the Quinn McDonaghs and the Joyces are cousins, they are bitter enemies and have clashed for generations.
The two families are at the heart of one of the longest and most violent bare-knuckle boxing feuds in Ireland and England.
It's the larger than life character that really make this a gripping watch as they take us into a very very real world of violence.
But it is an uneasy watch as you realise that this violence is real, it's not scripted there are no stunt men on hand as both clans continue this bare-knuckled vendetta.
Palmer's film takes you right to the heart of the fights it's raw, unflinching and in your face - and while you do ask yourself why they continue this feud after so many year? You just feel compelled to watch.
But the movie never feels like it's trespassing on a private war between two families and there is a real integrity shown by Palmer as he is repeatedly invited into the lives of these travelling families.
The film does feel a little disjoined as Palmer jumps backwards and forwards throughout the years of footage.
But there is quite a sad feel to the movie as you see the baton handed down from father to son to fight for the family name and you are left with the sense that this bitter feud will never come to an end.
Knuckle is riveting watch and one of the most compelling and entertaining documentaries of the year so far.
Knuckle is out on DVD now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw