Boxing. Whether you view the sport as barbaric or balletic, there is no escaping the fact that it provides the perfect setting for powerful ‘zero to hero’ movies. Champion is no different.

Being an Biopic, this is no action-packed ‘Rocky’ wannabe, and those looking for ‘Rocky’ style fights, and action packed boxing will be disappointed. In the hands of director Kwak Keung Taek, ‘Champion’ is a Heavyweight drama, and weighing in at an emotional 116 minutes, is involving, powerful, and emotive stuff. For a movie about such a violent and testosterone fuelled sport, it really tugs at the heart strings, and may even make the most hardened viewer shed a reluctant tear by the film’s tragic conclusion.

Overall, this is a quality piece of Korean drama. It is beautifully directed, every frame could be held up as a quality image, and the performances are excellent, especially from the excellent Yu Oh-Seong, who is enchanting, powerful and likeable throughout. The soundtrack also works in its favour, using an eclectic mix of sounds, from an epic orchestral main theme, through to a Korean rap/rock song, and even ‘Jingle Bells’. The only real criticism is common among biographical films – despite a lengthy running time, trying to fit a lifetime into two hours is hard work, and some areas of the fighter’s life seem a little rushed. For instance, the romantic sub-plot seems to skip a whole episode involving his girlfriend’s strict parents.

Those who are already familiar with Kim Duk-koo’s story should instantly add a point to the KFCC score given here, but either way, this is a solid and effective drama which tells a human interest story, a biographical tribute, and raises some interesting questions on the nature of this sometimes controversial sport.