Chelsea Alexandra
In every sport, adversity is a given. The challenge goes beyond the scoreboard because of the relentless will to rise above and win. Determination becomes the engine that carries athletes through every win, every loss and any doubt whether it is on the court, the field, or in the ring. For Jesselyn Silva, a boxing prodigy who dreams of the Olympics, determination is now the driving force that keeps her fighting for her life. Her diagnosis of childhood cancer is now her greatest opponent, an opponent she has never trained for. JessZilla is more than a story about a young talented boxer, but the type of courage we have to have in order to take back control and fight to keep living.
Jesselyn Silva is introduced to us as a standout in the boxing world. The young boxer is already a three-time national champion with Olympic dreams, not unlike 2012 Olympic champion Clarissa Shield, who was the subject of the recent biopic The Fire Inside. She is incredibly ambitious, trains hard, boxes harder in the ring, and carries herself with such strength. For the first half of the film, we’re immersed in the young boxer’s world. She trains under the watchful eye of her father, Pedro Silva, who is equal parts coach, cheerleader, and emotional anchor. We see them navigate early tensions with her coach, the pressures of competition, and the sacrifices demanded by a life devoted to sport.
And then, just as her path seems clear, life delivers a devastating blow. Jess is diagnosed with a rare form of childhood brain cancer. The narrative of the documentary shifts, but the core remains the same. Still continuing to follow Jess, now a fighter in the truest sense of the word. Jess doesn’t stop being ambitious when her life takes a turn. Her ambitions evolve. She remains focused, hopeful, and resilient, not in defiance of her diagnosis, but in dialogue with it. She continues to dream, to show up, and to lead her life with intent.
JessZilla delivers a documentary that finds its impact without relying on dramatic twists. Instead, it offers something far more meaningful. JessZilla is completely grounded. It’s an unfiltered portrait of a young athlete whose magnetism lies not in what she might become but in who she already is. Director Emily Sheskin approaches the story with care. The intimacy is palpable and so is the trust. Sheskin trusts Jess to lead her story and the audience to follow without hand-holding. Boxing is the backdrop, not the destination. What emerges is a larger meditation on identity, resilience, and belonging. Jess trains not to prove a point, but because this is who she is. The film’s pacing and style reflect that.
Central to the JessZilla documentary is Jess’s relationship with her father. Pedro Silva is more than a coach, he’s her anchor. His love is active, patient, and rooted in deep respect for who his daughter is, both as an athlete and as a person. Whether he’s guiding Jessalyn through a training session or simply sitting with her in quiet moments, his love is steady and deeply felt.
The ending of JessZilla hits like a ton of bricks not because it’s shocking, but because it’s real. It is both deeply empowering, beautiful but also heartbreaking at times. Life can be brutally hard, but watching her navigate it with such spirit is a powerful reminder that it’s not just about what happens to us, but how we choose to respond. It will leave viewers emotionally wrecked yet profoundly moved, reminded of both the fragility and the fierce beauty of life. That’s the core of JessZilla, a powerful and deeply affecting documentary. It’s a testament to what it means to live with purpose, even when the path forward becomes uncertain. Jesselyn Silva’s story reminds us that strength is not defined by medals or titles, but by how we face what we can’t control.
