Eyes of a Tiger

"It's better to go boxing than to be bored at home or to just hang around the streets," says one secondary school student from the Prague district of Žižkov, explaining why he visits the local gym several times a week. The Oči tygra ("Eyes of a Tiger") boxing club was opened years ago by the former champion boxer and eight-time national titleholder Stanislav Tišer, in order to protect Roma children falling victim to the pitfalls of the street. He succeeded in turning the rundown club into an important place that is visited for free by young people from all over Žizkov, many of whom are often living in difficult social conditions. Younger and older youths, girls and boys - all of them are united by their enthusiasm for boxing and their friendship with their respected and warmhearted trainer, who is often a surrogate family member for them. With paternal authority, this vigorous boxer has succeeded in inculcating his charges with a sporting code, which lends order to their lives and not only strengthens their muscles, but also their fragile self-confidence. This deft film by young documentary-maker Jana Počtová also captures a radical change in the usual course of events. Using funds from the city district, the gym is to be completely refurbished and transformed into a modern Centre for Contact Sports. The coach nostalgically bids farewell to the old facilities and awaits the future a little apprehensively. Will there be a place in this new centre for his Oči tygra club?