Matthew Leutwyler's powerful film 'Fight Like a Girl' tells the remarkable true story of Clarck Ntambwe, a young woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who turned to boxing as a means of revenge after her father was murdered. However, under the guidance of her trainer Balezi 'Kibomango' Bagunda, a former child soldier turned boxing champion, she found a path to healing and empowerment.
From Revenge to Resilience
Leutwyler, an American director who has lived in Africa for 13 years, was filming a documentary about Kibomango when Ntambwe arrived at the gym seeking retribution. 'We sat her down and said: You cannot join the gym if that is the case. That is not what we do,' Leutwyler recalls. It took time for Ntambwe to channel her anger into boxing, but with Kibomango's mentorship, she eventually reached the final of the African Boxing Championships.
A Tragic Loss
Kibomango was tragically killed by M23 rebels shortly after the film was completed, while helping Leutwyler evacuate children from a village under attack. His death deeply affected Ntambwe, who now lives in Seattle. 'It is not easy because it is my real life. I remembered my past and how hard it was. It made me cry,' she says of watching the film.
Authentic Storytelling
The film blends professional actors like Ama Qamata, who plays the lead role, with real people from Goma, lending raw authenticity to the story. Qamata, known for her role in Netflix's 'Blood and Water', trained intensely with Kibomango. 'He was very strict on set during the boxing scenes. He really wanted the boxing to look as good as it could get,' she says.
Humanising Conflict
Leutwyler made a conscious decision not to focus on the traumatic conflict in the DRC, but rather on the human story. Qamata explains: 'When we think about war-ridden countries we use numbers and statistics. But real people are living through such conflict. They have friendships, they fall in love, they have things in life that are so normal and relatable.'
A Call for Awareness
Ntambwe hopes the film will draw attention to the ongoing suffering in the DRC. 'The western media only focuses now on the war between Israel and Iran. They do not see anything happening in Congo. People need to understand that we are all human. We also bleed,' she says.
'Fight Like a Girl' is in cinemas from Friday, with a UK premiere at London's Genesis cinema on 22 May.
