Documentary portrait of former boxing champion Rudi Lubbers and his wife Ria. After the legendary fight against Mohammed Ali in 1973 things never really turned right for Rudi.
Muhammad Ali was unable to knock him to the canvas. For twelve rounds, Rudi Lubbers, one of Holland's most successful boxers ever, stayed on his feet against the boxing legend. But he only really learned to take left and right hooks during his twenty-year long relationship with Ria, a fairground attraction owner and the love of his life. Already in the beginning of the film, the comparison with Ali forces itself upon the spectator, when Lubbers dances in front of the camera, bragging and shadowboxing. But in the (usually just) verbal fights with his ever-sneering Rietje, he grows smaller and smaller. When he disappears without a trace after the umpteenth squabble, it is clear that Ria, despite her big mouth, is devoted to her champion. And apparently Ruud is unable to live without his partner, either. In this revealing, hilarious and tragic document, director Roy Dames demonstrates how thin the line is between love and hate.
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Set geluid
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Springfilm
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NTR
Distributor NL
Springfilm
NFF Archive
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