Nostalgia Kinky

It is never really about the ring. At least that is true in the great films about the sport of boxing, and it is certainly true of the amazing 1977 production Radiance has recently released on Blu-ray. Directed by the extraordinary Shūji Terayama, The Boxer is a fine character study and moving sports drama. Featuring a few valuable supplements, this rare treasure has gone underseen since its release, making this new disc an essential purchase. It is available directly from Radiance or here in the States from MVD.

The great Shūji Terayama had just turned forty when he began preparing for The Boxer. A celebrated playwright, he wrote The Boxer mostly on his own, and what a lovely script this is. Lyrical and poetic, The Boxer’s look at a past-his-prime champ training a young, promising protege is touching stuff.

Featuring a fine cast, moody cinematography by Tatsuo Suzuki, and a memorable score by J.A. Seazer, The Boxer is a quality production. While perhaps not as trailblazing or obviously brilliant as Terayama’s earlier Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets (1972), it has a gentleness in its filming style that is quite distinctive and stirring. This is true even of the film’s many scenes in the ring.

The Boxer is an incredibly soulful sports-centered film. While boxing ultimately takes a backseat to the film’s emotional narrative, fans of the sport will find much to love here. The Boxer feels authentic, both to its characters and its sport. Much of the credit goes to Terayama’s direction, which is uniquely compelling.

Apparently, The Boxer was a relative failure for the Toei Company, despite the success earlier American boxing films had seen in Japan. This is such a shame, as The Boxer is a quality work from a remarkable filmmaker. The film’s inability to land much of an audience at the time or since will hopefully be rectified on this new Radiance release.

The Boxer looks quite fine on Blu-ray, and Radiance has included an interview with composer J.A. Seaver and a new visual essay on Toei in 1977 by Tom Mes (2026). These are both excellent, as is the essay that comes in this slipcased obi-strip limited edition. Highly recommended.

-Jeremy Richey, July 2026-