Bruised is a sports drama film directed by Halle Berry who also stars in the lead role of Jackie Justice, a mixed martial arts fighter with a troubled past. Jackie has been out of the MMA world for years after a disastrous loss that caused her to walk away from the sport and her young son.
When she finds out that her son Manny, who she believed was dead, is still alive and in foster care, Jackie is determined to win him back and make things right. In order to do so, she must get back into the ring and compete in a high-stakes MMA tournament.
As she trains and fights her way through the tournament, Jackie must also confront her past and deal with the emotional trauma that led her to abandon her son. Along the way, she finds support and motivation from her trainer and love interest Desi, played by Adan Canto.
The film is set in the gritty world of MMA and explores themes of redemption, motherhood, and personal growth. It also features a diverse cast of fighters and trainers, including Sheila Vand as Jackie's rival and Valentina Shevchenko, a real-life UFC fighter, in a cameo role.
Bruised premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix for distribution. It marks Halle Berry's feature directorial debut and showcases her physical and emotional range as an actress.