Dans les cordes (On the Ropes)

Director: Magaly Richard-Serrano
Screenplay: Pierre Chosson and Gaëlle Macé
Soko's role: Sandra
With: Louise Szpindel
Released: 4 April 2007 (France)
Length: 93 minutes (DVD 90 min)
Genre: Drama

ON THE ROPES is about a boxing family. The father, the daughter, the mother and the niece are all involved in the sport. Joseph (the father) runs a small suburban club which is always on the brink of failure. The girls (Sandra and Angie) are preparing for the French championship. But Angie, the favoured contender, is defeated and a dangerous rivalry develops between Angie (Louise Szpindel) and Sandra (Soko) that goes far beyond the ring. The physically and mentally battered Angie is at the heart of the story.

Olivier Bachelard reviewed the film for Abus de ciné: "In front of the camera, the two young actresses are stunning. Louise Szpindel, full of suppressed anger, plays an uncomfortable character, wanting to prove to others more than to herself that she can fight like anyone else. While Stéphanie Sokolinski moves with ease from a childish appearance to lightning-fast outbursts of anger, demonstrating her character's desire to win. Alongside them, the parents appear as a couple on the verge of breaking up. They are played by Richard Anconina, convincing in his aimless agitation, and Maria de Medeiros, as withdrawn as she is distressed."

Director, Magaly Richard-Serrano, has twice been champion of France.

There are no female stunt doubles listed in the credits, so it is possible that Soko and Szpindel actually did their own boxing.

DANS LES CORDES can be purchased or rented from Canal+.

CAST

• Soko - Sandra
• Richard Anconina - Joseph
• Maria de Medeiros - Térésa
• Louise Szpindel - Angie
• Bruno Putzulu - Billy
• Jean-Pierre Kalfon - Henri
• Dioucounda Koma - Adbou
• Chems Dahmani - Jamel
• Ninon Brétécher - Vickie

OTHER CAST -- Daniel Allouche, Macha Béranger, Chloé Cadarrecq, Rudy Genkez, Max Malka, Julia Metendier, Mallory Patte-Serrano, Philippe Patte-Serrano, Paulette Richard, Roland Richard, Roumi, Ismaila Sarr, Martine Serrano, Marie Robert Trobrillant, and Roger Vergisson.