Sport is ancient and popular, and has been an important part of our various cultures and societies for as long as cultures and societies have existed. Little wonder, then, that sport should have seen a lot of representation in modern culture through cinema, though, given the popularity and pervasiveness of sport, perhaps not so much as one might expect. It has been posited by many that a large number of sports films don’t have a broad appeal due to unfamiliarity with the featured sport, but I’d strongly disagree, or at least argue strongly that that need not be an impediment to enjoyment: the audience not understanding the offside rule, not appreciating the significance of a three ball, two strike count with two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, or not appreciating the subtleties of why one man did a better job of punching his opponent in the face than his opponent did to him are, for the most part, irrelevant. And that’s because in most sports films the sport really isn’t the point; it’s a hook, a framework on which to hang a much more universal story. Usually the sport itself is an allegory for the exploration of something else, and the nature of sports, whether the discipline and training needed, drive and temptation, the perennial appeal of an underdog or the “get knocked down, get yourself back up again” mentality needed to succeed, lend themselves well to many narratives. In this episode we’re going to look at six films featuring six different sports, and representing many of those things I have just mentioned. We’ll look at a fairly straightforward biopic; sporting rivalry where respect is maintained; a desire to win at all costs, and the toxicity that generates; sport as a force to unite and inspire a nation; passion, choice and independence; and sport as a means to improve one’s life.
