LIFE AFTER FIGHTING

Australia, 2024, 123 minutes, Colour.

Bren Foster, Cassie Howarth, Luke Ford, Annabelle Stephenson.

Directed by Bren Foster.

Prospective audiences might look at the title interested in the aspect of life. But, for many action fans, the emphasis will be the fighting. And, indeed, these fans are the film’s target audience.

The film is the work of filmmaker and martial arts champion, Bren Foster. In his past, he had trained in film and television making and worked in Australia and in the United States, appearing in some films. However, as is evident from his performance in this film, he is expert at multi martial arts. And, interestingly at this stage of his career, he was in his mid-40s but doing all the fight sequences himself, organising the choreography, no special effects.

The film opens at his martial arts Academy, in an Australian suburban shopping centre, many students, and catering especially for children, even as young as five, wanting to train. Immediately, quite a number of training sequences, illustrating the various moves. This may be too much for those not immediately engaged by the martial arts but whetting the appetite for the fans.

And, one might call this a very popular kind of film, appealing to a wide range of audiences, definitely the action fans but, the introduction of a romance, signalled almost instantly but pleasantly pursued, especially with a focus on a harassed mother, a nice little boy of five, and the psychotic ex-husband played by veteran Australian actor, Luke Ford.

There is more besides the martial arts in terms of plot. Some sinister characters arrive at the school, audiences expecting them to turn up later even more sinisterly. And they do. The two little daughters of the manager of the school are abducted, disappearing, despite search. What emerges is a very serious subplot about human trafficking, involving those sinister characters seen earlier but also the psychotic ex-husband very much involved.

Then, for the fans, thinking of all those martial arts films and champions from Jean Claude van Damme to Jackie Chan there is a huge climax of fights, one against so many, the threat to the children, Alex being the hero but not without some personal cost.

Judging from blogging comments, Life after Fighting has well made its mark with fans and should be popular internationally in cinemas, streaming, for action fans who know what they want.

1. The title, the focus on fighting, multi-martial arts? Then the thriller dimension?
2. The Australian city, shopping centre, martial arts studio, offices, scenes outside, in the streets? The capture of the girls and their imprisonment? The musical score?
3. The target audience, martial arts fans? Beyond the fans? The serious thriller dimension?
4. The work of Bren Foster, filmmaker, martial arts expert, television experience, writing and directing and starring in his own film? Interesting and attractive screen personality?
5. The martial arts aspects, the training sequences, the introduction of the fight sequences, threats and dangers? The choreography? The drama of the moves? The reintroduction of the martial arts for the finale, one again so many, the fights, the skills?
6. Alex, his past career, champion, injuries and surgeries? Enjoying teaching, the children, the adults, the scenes of training, his manner? The ominous visitor and his partner, ousting them? The reappearance?
7. The romantic element, Samantha coming to enrol Terry, the immediate attraction, Victor and his presence, the marital situation, three years after divorce, Victor and his continued presence? Terry, aged five, the martial arts? Samantha and her coming to work at the school? The issue of the dinner, the night together, the relationship, Victor and his menace? Coming to the office, his tough associate, the fight?
8. Julie, her work at the school, her children, the ice cream, their being abducted? With the other children? The human trafficking story, Romania? Victor and his involvement, his past military experience? His psychotic attitudes and behaviour, his types?
9. Julie, upset, her husband away with military exercises, taking the pills? Alex and his determination to find the girls?
10. The week’s passing, Samantha, following Victor, her discovery of the girls, the captivity? The tough man in charge, his cruelty to the girls, his listening to music, Alex coming, dangers, the rescue of the girls, driving away, the pursuit?
11. Victor, abducting Terry, cutting his hand, his cruelty, madness? The phone calls to Samantha, the threats, the police, the bargaining, taken to the school? Hidden? The arrival of Victor and his thugs, masked? The friendly policeman who had tracked information about Alex seeing them pass, his later coming?
12. The last part of the film for the martial arts fans, one against so many, the fights, the impact on Alex, having to kill, unwilling to kill? The buildup to Victor’s arrival, the gun, Samantha with the gun, the shots and each being wounded? Alex forcing Victor with his gun, shooting himself? The policeman and the rescue?
13. Three weeks later, happy ending, everybody together, the future?