I think it's very important in the film that you, and this is why I'm so glad that Sydney played the character, you know,

it's that that character be adorable at the beginning of the film, you know,

and so that you can really feel how he over the course of their relationship kind of sucks the light out of her.

And to feel that, I think you really need to just feel that almost childlike joy at the beginning. Thank you. Hello and welcome back to the Director's Cut, brought to you by the Directors Guild of America.

In this episode, an unshakable desire to win fuels a young woman's journey to becoming the most successful female boxer of the 90s,

director David Michaud's biographical sports drama, Christy.

The film tells the true story of Christy Martin, who never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia

until she discovered a talent in the boxing ring.

But her toughest battles start to

unfold outside of the ring as she confronts family, identity, and a relationship that just

might become life or death. In addition to Christy, Michaud's other directorial credits

include the feature films, The King, War Machine, The Rover, and Animal Kingdom,

and episodes of the series, Dock World, Flesh and Bone, and Enlightened.

Following a screening of the film at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Michaud spoke with

director John Lee Hancock about filming Christy.

Listen on for their spoiler-filled conversation.

Thanks for coming out to see this wonderful movie.

I was asked to do this, and I said, hell yes, I want to do it.

And I didn't get to see the movie, and I'm so happy.

I said that I wanted to do it because, one, selfishly, I wanted a conversation with David.

I'm a big fan.

And also just to talk kind of director to director

...