The first section of the film takes us into the life of George Ngwenya, a highly respected boxing trainer who has prepared world champions. In an amateur boxing youth centre in Soweto, he explains the importance of learning protection and defence techniques and of disciplining the body.

Despite tragically high numbers of HIV infection and the widespread reality of AIDS, George is adamant that there is no need to include HIV awareness and condom use in his work with young people. He draws on traditions in his culture to justify not speaking to his now adult children about HIV and how to protect themselves.

George’s daughter, Lindiwe, is then interviewed. She speaks of the realities of HIV and AIDS and how the virus has affected people in her family network, and of her father’s refusal to acknowledge this or change his views.

George is seen walking away from TV reports on the scale and scope of HIV in the country, passing in silence a huge street message warning about the devastation of AIDS. He shepherds youths into an amateur boxing match, into HIV-silenced zones, yet their sexual culture thrives beyond George’s zones of physical discipline.

In a professional boxing club in downtown Johannesburg, we follow South African flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane as he approaches the title fight for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Flyweight Boxing Championship.

Under international boxing regulations, avoiding HIV is essential. The gym is sure to keep condoms in full supply.

Moruti speaks clearly of how his dreams of boxing success have gone hand in hand with a decision to not ‘womanise’, to be committed to the woman he plans to marry.

Moruti and his girlfriend are interviewed, and the decency, gentleness and affection of their relationship is all too apparent as they speak about condom use, HIV testing, and their ease with periods of sexual abstinence when Moruti’s training and fights require it.

A ‘dream sequence’ of discreet but sensual images of a man and woman embracing follows, carefully echoing the opening sequence of a man inspecting a condom, and leads the viewer on to part two of the film.