Birch Street Gym

This is really a film about purpose. A group of elderly gents who have been largely sidelined because of their advanced years attend the Birch St. Gym. It is a source of exercise, association and healthy competitiveness and for many of them living in care environments, it is an opportunity to get out and let off steam. With the annual club championship approaching, Jack is challenging Rocco whilst the manager Rudy has an altogether tougher and more uneven task of his own - to keep the club open. The local authorities are terrified that they might find themselves on the wrong end of a lawsuit should one of these geriatric pugilists do themselves, or another, an injury and so are determined to close the place down. Adamant that they barely have the strength to pull the skin from a custard, they insist that no such eventuality is likely, but as the deadline day looms, things do not look good for this club. It makes it's point clearly and succinctly right from the start, and then leaves us in the capable hands of these charismatic men as they spar - verbally and physically, for half an hour. As an observation of cameraderie, this works quite well and though probably ten minutes longer then it needs to be, reminds us that old age needn't be the key to the scrap heap.