Opening Day: 13 July 2006 (The Picturehouse)

Synopsis:

From the gyms of middle America to the Olympic arena in Athens, Greece, MURDERBALL tells the story of a group of world-class athletes unlike any ever shown on screen. In addition to smashing chairs, it will smash every stereotype you ever had about gimps and cripples. It is a film about family, revenge, honor, sex (yes, they can) and the triumph of love over loss. But most of all, it is a film about standing up, even after your spirit and your spine has been crushed.

Movie Review:

This sports documentary is about men who are confined to wheelchairs for the rest of their lives. Before you think this is a potentially sappy and tear-inducing premise that will bring about a few sniffles, you may want to reconsider that. Not only will you not shed a single tear, you will be emotionally gripped by these young men’s fierce attitudes towards life.

The 85-minute Academy-nominated documentary introduces us to the world of quadriplegic rugby players. Although these men can only move around in wheelchairs, they live their lives to the fullest. With the context of quad rugby, also known as “Murderball”, viewers experience how these men triumph over their disabilities.

Yes, it is convenient to stereotype these people as “the less fortunate”. But trust us, after watching this refreshing documentary, all those stereotypes will be crushed.

Set against the backdrops of the 2002 Quad Rugby Games in Sweden and the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, several men’s life stories are told through their own accounts and interviews with their family and friends.

Amongst the colourful characters you’d get to meet Mark Zupan, a competitive and intense star player of the American team. Then there is Joe Soares, who played for the American team before going over to coach the Canadian team. With these two, you can already expect a riveting clash of personalities. To balance this tension, enter Keith Cavill - who feels sore about never being able to walk freely again.

These characters are the very reason why this documentary works. When they first appear, they look fierce and angst-ridden. Gradually, the film develops their individual stories and you amazingly begin to understand them on a personal level. These men are not put in flattering light to gain sympathy from you. In fact, sympathy is the last thing they’d want from “normal people”. They have their flaws and moments when they lose emotional control. They become just like us during these situations.

Also, the film documents their needs and feelings in an unflinching manner. You will get to experience their individual tales of loyalty, friendship, family kinship and discipline. One segment which will remain unforgettable is how they talk about their physical needs – sex. It is a truly fascinating display of humanity.

One possible drawback for local audiences is the film’s context, which may be unfamiliar to many people. Some may lose interest after repeated shots of wheelchair knocking into wheelchair at the quad rugby matches. The filmmakers do attempt to keep the viewers’ eyes glued to the screen with zany and edgy shots and editing. The brisk pace and short runtime of the film will also help to keep you focused.

Female audiences: do not worry that the testosterone level of this documentary is too high. It is the ideal film to watch and realize how these characters will make perfect role models for your boyfriends. And for the guys, you may want to reflect on yourselves, before you come out of the theatre feeling ashamed – the men in this documentary can all stand up in their lives, even when their spines have been crushed.

Movie Rating:

(Breaking the feel-good stereotypes of quadriplegics, this documentary ironically moves at a very rapid pace – an adrenaline-filled viewing experience)

Review by John Li