Writer-director Ashima Aiyer’s 10 Oz takes us to Thailand, where we follow two Muay Thai fighters who step into the ring for very different reasons. The short documentary opens with an older woman standing in a muddy part of the river, digging for fish by hand. She is the aunt caring for Bpaet Wor Watthana, who is 14 years old, after he was abandoned by his parents following a nasty divorce. Bpaet’s aunt is poor but knows how to scrape by.
Out of loyalty to her, Bpaet trains as a Muay Thai fighter not just for the love of the sport, but to earn money through prize purses. Running alongside Bpaet’s story is Kay Sitmonchai, who is 20 years old and faces a different kind of pressure: the push to build a future while staying loyal to the memory of his mother, who died of a terminal illness. Kay’s success depends on the sport’s physical and mental discipline.
“…Bpaet trains as a Muay Thai fighter not just for the love of the sport, but to earn money through prize purses.”
The title refers to the weight of Muay Thai gloves. From there, 10 Oz becomes a thoughtful essay on sports worldwide, why we participate in them, and what they’re really chasing. Even though we’re in Thailand, the film highlights contrasts in motivation that aren’t so different from those in the States — need versus honor, and survival versus legacy. The country isn’t a sports capital like New York or Los Angeles. The film strips away the high-priced gyms and aisles of protein supplements. Instead, we can look these fighters in the eye and see only their determination to win.
Philosophy aside, 10 Oz follows the lives of two fighters who train at the same gym and are at two different stages in life. Bpaet and Kay are the perfect subjects, giving us access to their personal lives. It ultimately answers the question of why human beings participate in sports with both drive and passion.
"…becomes a thoughtful essay on sports worldwide..."
