2022 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Aleksandra Rola is a mixed martial arts fighter from Poland. She has proven herself to be a worthy fighter by defeating all of her competition throughout her home country–and she has earned herself a spot at the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unfortunately, due to a serious injury, Ola (as they call her) has had to wait an additional year to prove herself to the world. Fury follows Ola on her journey through rehab, training, dieting, and love as she makes her way ever-closer to that coveted position at the World Championships. The road is long, but the payout may just be worth it.
Interestingly Fury feels more like a narrative piece than a documentary. Now, I’m conflicted about whether or not that’s a good thing. It can mean two things: either the story is so honest that it feels like Hollywood cinema, or the material has been fabricated to a degree in order to find success. I tend to draw that line somewhere in the middle between the two realms of possibility. There are times when the lighting or the dialogue feel a tad too scripted to be organic and real, but alternatively I believe that Ola’s story is so interesting that it feels like one that has been drawn up in a veritable roundtable among Hollywood bigwigs. The juxtaposition of my two theories (regardless of which is right and which is wrong) bring balance to one another and the film as a whole. The development of Fury, whether fabricated or real, creates a documentary that is entertaining and informative–and, honestly, that’s all you can really ask for.
There’s always a message present in documentaries–sometimes those messages are hidden, and other times the message sits right at the surface. Fury is obvious in its approach toward educating viewers, and the message is interesting. The message isn’t far-reaching, attempting to sway the world’s opinion on things, or change how people behave, but rather just to open viewers’ eyes up to a reality that we often overlook: athletes' lives are difficult. There’s often a massive payout to the athletes that make it the biggest in the world. Athletes like Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, and Tiger Woods have made millions of dollars as a result of being the best at their respective sport–but the journey to reach the pinnacle of their craft is daunting, and spectators and fans of athletics often forget this as a result of the athletes’ financial success. Fury picks one specific thing to focus on, and as Ola deals with the difficulties of eating correctly, maintaining a romantic relationship, and rehabilitating her injury the world’s eyes are opened to all that it takes to be this successful.
I previously mentioned the fact that the lighting sometimes feels a tad fabricated in order to express a certain vigor in particularly important or moving scenes, and regardless of whether this happened naturally or not, the scenes in question throughout Fury are successful. The professional-style lighting that exists throughout the film is inviting, and it provides viewers another reason to remain focused on Fury.
Ola’s story is already interesting–before Fury dives deep into her journey. For fans of athletics, particularly MMA, Fury is incredibly appealing. Fury dives not just into the journey of Ola, but what that journey may look like for some of our favorite athletes as well. Fury is down to earth and honest, and while it takes a unique approach toward conveying a sports-related story, it’s ultimately successful in its attempt to do so.
Directed by Krzysztof Kasior.
Starring Aleksandra Rola, Konrad Płaza, Maria Rola, Kazimierz Rola, Małgorzata Rola, Damian Rola, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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