apple_kim_uk Reviews

Beckham (2023)

One of the best celebrity documentaries

[10/10 · 8 October 2023]

Once I started watching the 4-part documentary series simply titled 'Beckham', I was engrossed till the end. The documentary features the major highs and lows of David Beckham's career in a perfectly paced narrative with not a single boring moment, even for non-football fans.

The film showcased a lot of interviews with Beckham's former teammates who were all down to earth and charismatic, as well as his supportive wife Victoria, and the two most formative figures who shaped his career. This included his determined father Ted who recorded up to 1,400 video footages of Beckham playing football as a child to send to football clubs. As Beckham recalls, "When my dad used to make me do corner after corner after corner after corner. And put it in the exact same spot as he wanted it. And if I didn't, he'd kill me. He used to tell me, it's moments like corners at the end of the game that can create history."

The other prominent male figure in Beckham's life was the former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who saw potential in Beckham when he arrived in Manchester as a trainee in 1991 and took him under his wings as his prodigy. After Beckham's contributions in the 1992 FA Youth Cup, Beckham was signed with United as a professional in 1993 which launched the midfielder into superstardom.

One of the highlights for me includes the recap of the infamous kick during knockout stages of the 1998 World Cup tournament for which Beckham received a red card, before Argentina went on to win on penalties. Whilst Beckham faced public backlash, Argentina player Diego Simeone admitted Beckham did not deserve the red card, as the contact was minimal and his fall over the imaginary kick was faked.

Another interesting focus of the series was the complex relationship between Beckham and his former 'Boss' Sir Alex Ferguson. Despite Beckham's love for the club, the documentary reveals their deteriorating relationship which culminated in a dressing room clash which saw Ferguson angrily kick a boot hitting Beckham in the eye, which led to Beckham's subsequent move to Real Madrid in 2003.

I also enjoyed watching Beckham's development as he matures from being a self-serving, restless player who always had a 'itch that needs scratching' to a true team player with a responsibility to the MLS Cup, as he and LA Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan who publicly criticised Beckham for abandoning the team, put their differences aside for the benefit of team. According to Landon, "Our coach said something I'll never forget. He said, "David, to Landon, this is his Manchester United." I get chills talking about it, because for David, that was everything."

Despite the celebrity surrounding the Posh and Becks brand, Beckham's 20-year career achievements included 19 major trophies for his clubs and 115 games appearances for England, making him one of the greatest players in English football history and not just a marketing tactic to boost shirt sales.

My Everest (2023)

Climb your own Everest and do the best that you can do, rather than try to fill society's expectations

[10/10 · 26 July 2023]

'My Everest' documents the naïve excitement as well as the darkest lows of Max Stainton's journey as he conquers Everest Base Camp. However, Max is disabled with cerebral palsy and struggles with basic tasks that most people take for granted. Despite his lack of coordination, Max undergoes two years of training in preparation of the mountainous challenge.

As an avid horseback rider, Max and his partner Candy along with a team of Sherpas and Rocky the horse, treks the Everest Base Camp Trail. The initial anticipation soon dissipates into fear, as Max realises he underestimated the physicality of the challenge, as well as the excruciating pain exerted on his body to get to Base Camp.

The adventure film captures close-up footage of the trail whilst the contrast between the diminutiveness of humanity against the soaring Himalayan mountains is mind-blowing. However, the documentary also provides insight into the emotional battles and the physical toll on Max, who admits wanting to quit at one stage. At this point, the trek was no longer about defying expectations and breaking down societal prejudice, but one of survival as the impact of each step caused acute pain and damage to his hips.

Despite his physical suffering, Max and his team manage to overcome the strenuous, long climb to reach Base Camp. Whilst settled back home in England, Max becomes a minor celebrity, making media appearances to share his story. However, behind the confident façade, Max reveals his scars from the conquest of Base Camp, which has left him traumatised and more disabled than before. The documentary also touches upon the culture of toxic masculinity which ultimately lands young men in dangerous situations, of which Max was not immune to, just to prove their worth to society, highlighting the fine line between bravery and recklessness.

The final moments of the candid interview with Max and Candy discloses their regrets as to why Max undertook such a challenge in the first place. Whilst at the start of the film, Max does not want to simply exist as society expects of disabled people, he wants to live his life without being boxed-in, step outside his comfort zones, and rebel in his own way. However, towards the end of the film, the enlightened Max realises that he never needed to climb the Everest to prove people wrong or to be liked, as it is clear his family and friends clearly support and love him regardless.

India's Forgotten People (2020 TV Movie)

A rare spotlight on a proud but overlooked community

[10/10 · 17 July 2022]

This is an insightful documentary which delves into the history and the cycle of poverty that entraps the Gadia Lohars who are named after bullock carts (Gadi) and their traditional occupation as blacksmiths (Lohar). The Gadias are one of the poorest communities in India and they have been excluded from official census records since the 1930s. Their way of life is reminiscent of their nomadic forefathers from centuries ago who were once highly respected craftsmen of fine armoury for Hindu kings but today they barely survive, facing impoverished living conditions despite their strenuous hard work and skills in iron work.

The film investigates the reasons behind the shocking living conditions of the Gadias who have no toilets or running water whilst they live in tents and carts. The availability of mass-produced tools, the lack of access to education due to their travelling lifestyle as well as lack of awareness of its importance, the cultural prestige attached to having large families and lots of children, and the lack of priority by the authorities towards the Gadias have made the cycle of deprivation almost impossible to escape from.

Despite the negative views of local villagers who warns of the criminal behaviour of the Gadias, throughout the film they are a peaceful and resilient community. This is a fascinating ethnographic film of a group of mostly forgotten people. Despite being less than an hour in length, it crams so much interesting facts whilst the visual scenes are colourful and cheerful, which like the booming economy of the rest of India, is in stark contrast to the poverty-stricken livelihood of this deprived community.

Liar's Dice (2013)

The ending was both expected and unexpected

[10/10 · 7 February 2021]

In a desperate search for her missing husband who has not been in contact for five months, Kamala decides to travel to Delhi where Harud, her husband, works as a construction worker. Kamala, her daughter Manya and their pet goat, meet the mysterious army deserter, Nawazuddin, along the way and they make their journey together in search for Harud.

The film explores serious issues such as the dangers faced by unaccompanied women in public, the absence of workplace safety practices, as well as the recruitment and exploitation of poor migrant workers, the myriad of nameless people who are regarded as a mere statistic to whom this film is dedicated to.

Despite the dark underlying themes, the highlight of the film is the beautiful cinematography as it takes us on a journey from a remote village in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, which is on the border with Tibet, through to the colourful and chaotic streets of Delhi, a big city which preys on the urban poor, where not even a goat is safe.

Lorena, Light-footed Woman (2019)

An inspiring story of a real-life Forest Gump

[10/10 · 6 January 2021]

This compact documentary was shot in the mountain ranges of Urique, Chihuahua in Mexico where Lorena Ramirez and her family live. It contains beautiful cinematography and gives viewers an insight into the life of the Ramirez family who are an indigenous people belonging to a group called the Rarámuri (or Tarahumara). The Ramirez family live an isolated existence without any of the modern-day comforts, where the sons attend a school that is a five-hour walk away whilst Lorena and her sisters remain at home to tend to their animals and prepare meals which requires a long four-hour journey by foot to the nearest grocery store.

Like her father, Santiago, who has won the Guachochi Ultramarathons three times, Lorena discovers that she has a talent for running. Dressed in her traditional skirts and sandals, Lorena wins many races and fans along the way. Having grown up in a land untouched by development, the fresh air that is free from factory smoke and the rugged dirt paths across the mountainous terrain means that Lorena was born to run marathons.

Just like the fireflies that follow their lights in silence, the softly spoken Lorena whispers that she will continue to follow her light to run races for as long as she can. Overall, it was a unique, anthropology documentary film which makes you want to move to the mountains and take up running.

Ava (IV) (2020)

Captivating from start to finish

[10/10 · 15 December 2020]

A fast paced, action packed film with lots of hand-to-hand combat and gun fights whilst covering serious themes such as infidelity, alcoholism, betrayal, and the brutality as well as empathy that humans are capable of.

Ava, a deadly assassin whose career boasts 41 closed deals, finds herself develop a moral conscious and a need to know the reason behind her subjects' ordered executions thus breaking her organisation's protocol. As a result of her unpredictability, Ava becomes the organisation's target for elimination which leads to a series of violent events.

Despite the tragic consequences, as in the famous line from Herodotus' retelling of the story of Croesus and Solon: "Count no man happy until the end is known," one can still die happy in the comfort of knowing that their families are safe.