About the film
Sons of the Sweet Science is a cinematic portrait of youth boxing in Oakland, California where the ring becomes a proving ground for discipline, identity, and the complicated bond between fathers and sons. Set inside the gritty yet vibrant ecosystem of Bay Area gyms, the film follows a group of young fighters navigating adolescence, pressure, and purpose under the watchful eyes of the men who train them. Between the rhythm of jump ropes, the crack of gloves, and the roar of crowded amateur tournaments, boxing becomes more than a sport; it becomes a language for growth, mentorship, and transformation.
Blending documentary storytelling with poetic visual moments, Sons of the Sweet Science explores the deeper metaphysics of the fight game: What it means to face fear, accept loss, carry a legacy, and step into manhood while still a boy.
Through intimate access to fighters, families, and coaches, the film captures the fragile space where love, expectation, pride, and redemption collide revealing that sometimes the hardest battles happen outside the ring.
The boxers
Every fighter has a story. Every corner has his father.
Makai - ranked #2 USA
143 pounds
A young fighter discovering focus, discipline, and identity inside and outside of the ring.
Kyle “Masanting” Lacanlale
A professional super bantamweight fighter from San Ramon, Kyle “Masanting” Lacanlale steps into the ring carrying discipline, heritage, and the quiet determination of a fighter forged through years of sacrifice.
Tristen
A young fighter searching for his place between boyhood and manhood. Guided by his stepfather Tito while his biological father remains incarcerated, Tristen steps into the ring carrying the responsibility of becoming a role model for his younger brother, Cito.