Wheelchair Rugby (originally known as Murderball) is a game created by quadriplegic athletes that is every bit as aggressive as the name would lead one to expect. The game has become an official event at the Paralympics and the United States and Canada have become fierce rivals in the event. This documentary follows both teams as they prepare for and compete in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. It offers an up-close look at the 2004 Wheelchair Rugby tournament, as well as the personal stories of the athletes who are passionate, driven, and determined to win.
If you think of someone confined to a wheelchair and you picture a person who is limited to what they can do and their ability to get around, this film will open your eyes and completely change the way you think of people with "disabilities." The guys in this film that play wheelchair rugby are tougher and probably live fuller lives than most able body folks. The competition between the wheelchair rugby teams is so fierce, as the movie went on, I found myself focusing less on the wheelchairs and more on rooting for Team USA to win the gold in the 2004 Paralympics. The fact that they go on with their lives and don't complain about the things they can't do anymore (or might take them longer to do) make the everyday bellyaching the rest of us do even more trivial. This is an eye opening and captivating documentary that seems too short at 90 minutes. Encore!
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Mark Zupan, Joe Soares
I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment