Review of Victor Young Perez

I had the opportunity to see "Victor Young Perez" at the Hamptons International Film Festival. The story of a Tunisian Jewish boxer who rose to fame in prewar France, only to be consigned to Auschwitz during the German occupation of Paris, real-life Olympic Gold Medalist Brahim Asloum portrays Perez with convincing athleticism and surprising confidence. While parts of the film are difficult to watch--the boxing scenes are realistically bloody--"Victor Young Perez" is alternately inspiring, horrifying, enthralling and infuriating. The film is beautifully shot, well directed and consistently gripping. Actress Isabella Orsini, in the part of Perez's love interest, is a luminous beauty who is every bit the 1930s movie star she portrays. When all is said and done, "Victor Young Perez" is not to be missed.