JessZilla: Perhaps the Most Important Sports Documentary You Could Ever Watch
Young Jesselyn Silva boxing (JessZilla)
“If you were directing this movie, how would it end?” asked an off-camera voice.
“I would end this film, basically, being able to have people inspired,” Jesselyn Silva replied.
Jesselyn’s documentary ended exactly the way she intended it to. Though she and her family endured the unthinkable, her story isn’t about misfortune or harrowing loss. It’s an incredible ode to a fearless fighter who, against all odds, never ever gave up.
Teenage Jesselyn Silva practicing for Junior Olympics (JessZilla)
JessZilla, directed by Emily Sheskin, is a documentary that follows Jesselyn Silva and her journey to becoming a professional boxer. Starting at age 10, it’s clear that little Jess has a rare spark that sets her apart from other kids. Her love for boxing radiates, and she displays more determination and work ethic than most people could ever hope to have. It’s truly a joy watching her break barriers as a young girl in a male-dominated sport, as well as witnessing the incredible bond between her and her father. While her dreams of being a 2024 Olympian or fighting in Madison Square Garden may seem extreme at first, Jesselyn shows us throughout the film that anything is possible if you work hard enough. With every year the film documents, we see Jesselyn move closer and closer to achieving her lifelong goal– until the unspeakable happens.
At the age of 15, Jesselyn gets diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer and is told she has less than one year to live. While most people would take this news as a sign that the fight was over, Jesselyn didn’t hesitate a second. She knew that losing a fight had nothing to do with the outcome– it meant giving up. And she never gave up. She was never scared, she was never discouraged. She understood that this fight was different than any of the ones she’d fought in the ring– but, as always, she gave it absolutely everything she had. She fought through having to walk away from her greatest passion; she fought through surgeries, treatments, and pain; and she fought with the idea that her time here would be cut short. But she also fought to get back in the gym even when she was told she couldn’t; she fought to meet her greatest boxing idols; she fought to get in the ring at Madison Square Garden like she’d always dreamed of; and, most importantly, she fought for three more years of life.
Whatever Jesselyn was fighting, whether it was her opponent in the ring, gender bias, or a brain tumor, Jesselyn continued to defy the odds and inspire everyone with the privilege to witness her journey. Her name and legacy will forever be known and celebrated by the boxing community and the sports world at large.
Teenage Jesselyn Silva training (JessZilla)
The Impact of JessZilla: A Personal Perspective
There was nothing that could have prepared me for the profound impact this film would have on me. The spunky, determined, and fearless Jesselyn immediately captured my heart and took me on a beautiful, hour-and-a-half journey that I will forever cherish.
As an artistic swimmer, I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to relate to a boxing athlete, let alone one half my age. Jesslyn was a girl in one of the most male-dominated sports, and I, a girl in one of the most female-dominated, but somehow I still felt such a strong connection to her through the screen. As women in sports in general, we’re fighting the same fight. We both have to work ten times as hard for recognition, we both have to endure underestimation and condescending comments, and we both have to prove we belong in sports time and time again. Recently, after transitioning from the world of college athletics to sports media, I’ve been experiencing the same phenomenon on a different level. As I work to prove myself daily in a profession that has historically excluded women, I think of Jesselyn and the way she carried herself through the boxing world with both grace and defiance. She fought for herself, but she also fought to open doors for and inspire other girls in her sport. I feel that same responsibility working in sports, with the intent of carving out space for women like me, guiding everything that I do.
Although I related to Jess in this way, I was more so in awe of her. Usually, we look up to people older than us, but I’ve never looked up to anyone the way I look up to Jesselyn. Somehow, her young self held more courage and grit than I could ever hope to have. Though I’ll never have Jesselyn’s unshakeable spirit, her story has inspired me to get as close as I can to it.
JessZilla was truly one of the most moving films I’ve ever watched. I’m heartbroken that Jesselyn is no longer with us, but that does not mean her story is over. She lives on in anyone who pursues their big dreams without taking no for an answer, anyone who fights through whatever life throws at them, and anyone who refuses to be defined by their circumstances.
To Jesselyn, who will forever inspire us to fight for what we love.
How You Can Help
Jesselyn (right), her father (middle), and her little brother (left) (JessZilla)
A portion of every purchase of JessZilla will go towards the Jesselyn “JessZilla” Silva Fund, which provides support to families affected by and funds research on DMG and DIPG, brain tumors that currently have no effective treatments. After experiencing the magic of Jesselyn’s story, I hope you’ll consider donating to support those fighting these diseases in her honor.