Too much of everything

Excellent but underrated film

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This brilliantly conceived and executed documentary film tells the story of disadvantaged but ambitious and talented young Latino people who are working hard to create a meaningful and rewarding future for themselves through the sport of boxing. With great sensitivity and understanding, Justin Frimmer, the film's producer, director, and writer, opens a window into a world I never knew existed, a thriving subculture in which these young boxers, some beginning at the age of seven or eight, with full support from their families and from their communities, are trained by professional trainers and coaches in well equipped facilities. The focus is twin brothers and their quest to participate in the Olympics, a captivating story presented with striking clarity and insight well supported by illuminating commentary from well respected boxing trainers and network news sports reporters in a well-paced, hard-hitting, and thoroughly engaging film. Although this is Mr. Frimmer's first major film, the film craft is creative and thoroughly professional from the framing of the segments to the solid and informative narration to the well chosen music and effective sound track. "Born and Bred" is an uplifting and stirring film well worth seeing! I came away inspired and wanting to know more about the people and the amazing world in which they live.

I love documentary films like this. It felt a lot more "real" than most documentary films these days that use all kinds of recreated footage and fictional-style effects to try and sell you some social message.This one just came straight from the heart of the people it was about. I thought from the trailer that it was going to be all about kids being raised to fight but there was a lot more to it. The film centers on two gyms in the same Los Angeles neighborhood but it constantly shifts among the lives of numerous boxers/trainers/parents to tell the larger story of working class immigrants struggling to make it on both a physical and spiritual level. As it unfolds, it also breakdowns the "making" of a young boxer as he goes from childhood bouts with other kids around the country to Olympic competition to the televised professional ranks.There is a kind of ritualistic feel to the whole film as the narrator and various commentators provide a rich background of the culture of the sport and the psychological path that a boxer must take to emerge victorious. The story inspired me more on a larger level of understanding how the human mind works when it is pushed to the limit in a very real way. Overall, this is just a really original film. If you liked Hoop Dreams and When We Were Kings, you'll like this.

Really cool film. I thought the subject matter was going to be really interesting, and it was, but there were a lot of narrative layers to this documentary. Most sports docs just kind of play to the stereotypes but this one really went in its own direction. It's more about a lot of different individuals trying to use boxing to create a life for themselves, both inside and outside the sport. Especially enjoyed the clips of Teddy Atlas philosophizing about boxing as a metaphor for life. They were a nice balance to the sub-culture of Mexican-American kids as it was difficult to tell how they fit into the sport as a whole.Reminded me a bit of Hoop Dreams (except not so freaking long) and other documentaries that show the back-stories behind the big show.

I checked this film after all the publicity came out on it and because I love boxing, but this film really dug deep into my soul. Most of the movies out there about Mexican-Americans are kind of corny and make you feel like you're just supposed to watch them. With this movie, I felt some serious hardcore pride. Not only to be an American but to be the son of really hard working parents who have sacrificed their lives and instilled in me the strength to give everything I have in every fiber of my being. I know that the lives of these kids really don't mean much to a lot of people in this country, but I understand what they are going through. It's great that films like this get made. I'd like to see more and I'll definitely support them. I like how it showed all the different sides of the culture- the fighters, the gangsters, the working guys out in the streets, the religious women and the regular guys just trying to make it with their families. It reminds me why the good decisions I made were good and the bad decisions I made were bad. Never give up on your real heartfelt dreams.