Today we will look at why we think it is important to include the survivors or the families of victims in the making of tragedy-based films. We will analyse examples of films that have achieved something, through their collaboration with people affected by tragedy. As well as the potential negative impact not involving those affected can have.

Bearing Witness

There are several reasons it is important to involve survivors or victims’ families in films based on real-life tragedies. Firstly, it helps provide a sense of care and common decency. It helps those who have suffered pain to feel their feelings are being taken on board, not ignored.

Secondly, involving affected people (directly or indirectly) and listening to them when it comes to creative decisions allows the narrative to be closer to their experience and allows the potential for it to be closer to what they need. By taking on their input it can help shape the film to provide closure, a fuller portrait of life, and more that can lead to positive outcomes for those affected. In summary, it gives power to those affected and provides opportunities for healing.

And giving those affected a say in how their story is told helps create a more welcoming environment. Thereby encouraging others affected by real-life tragedy to speak up and tell their stories.

Films Involving Those Impacted

Two films that have shown the benefits of involving people affected by tragedies in the production process include Fruitvale Station (based on the police shooting of Oscar Grant), and She Said (based on the Harvey Weinstein case).

During Fruitvale Station’s production director Ryan Coogler met with members of Oscar Grant’s family to discuss his life. This helped inform the characterisation of Oscar, which Grant’s family found to be very accurate to his personality. And Coogler’s focus on Oscar’s life rather than the tragedy that killed him, an approach he discussed with the family, helped provide some comfort to them. As they hoped the movie would encourage conversations around change.

Meanwhile, She Said involved several survivors of Weinstein in scripting discussions. As well as discussions with the actresses portraying them. And some also acted in the film. This process provided catharsis and a sense that the industry is starting to value survivors’ creative input more. 

Why Their Voices Matter

When dealing with real-world events art can have tangible effects on the public and those affected by tragedy.

If the concerns and experiences of those affected by tragedy are not taken into account then it risks further entrenching harmful ideas in public discourse. Such as devaluing the testimonies of those affected and evidenced research in favour of creative license. As well as opening the door for potential sensationalisation of a story and deviation from accounts of what happened. Which can dehumanise and trivialise survivors or effected people’s experiences in the public eye. And it risks re-traumatizing those involved.

Of course, other improvements still need to be made regarding the cinematic telling of these stories. For example, She Said, despite its positive inclusion of affected voices, has also been said to play into harmful tropes of reporters needing to tell victims’ stories. As they are seen as more palatable. But more filmmakers must start taking the input of survivors and affected people seriously. So films based on events that altered their world forever can serve not as eternal monuments to their pain but as something that can help people to heal.

Also Read: The Eternal Appeal of the Boxing Movie

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The post Their Stories: Involving Survivors in the Creation of Tragedy Films appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

A Swift History

Boxing films have played a key role throughout cinema. Early boxing films, helped pioneer documentaries by using limited setups to film real (or reproduced) matches to later show to wider audiences. These films gave wider visibility to women’s boxing, and showcased big stars and historical matches, e.g. Jack Johnson vs. James J. Jeffries – which showed the first African American heavyweight champion (Johnson) winning against a white opponent (Jeffries). Leading to considerable racist backlash. 

Since then boxing movies have also become dramatic cinema staples; playing a role in many artists’ development. Silent stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton used boxing movies to grow their names. Filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, King Vidor, Clint Eastwood, Ryan Coogler and more have received acclaim in the genre. Additionally, the genre helped pioneer feature-length filmmaking (The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight), played a role in the transition to sound films (The Shakedown) and helped popularise the beloved training montage (The Rocky series).

Knocking Audiences Out

So why do audiences and creatives continually return to boxing movies? Well, the stories offer great opportunities for emotionally engaging storytelling. They focus on underdogs whose audiences want to succeed or protagonists with fraught emotional lives that provide windows into uncomfortable subjects. Allowing audiences to easily get invested and giving artists the freedom to explore various engaging topics.

Boxing movies also feature fight scenes that go into detail showing the boxers hurt each other (quick edits to show each punch). This coupled with the personal stories built up outside the ring and the physical challenges our protagonist faces, such as gangsters who offer them money at their pride’s expense, powerful ring opponents or foes from the past, help make the action viscerally impactful for audiences and provides great tools for creatives to play with.

These films also often focus on ingrained racist, classist, and patriarchal systems that dehumanize our protagonists. And generally, a boxing movie will end with the boxer either proving their worth, showing that hard work can yield success or the boxer will lose something significant, showing that hard work alone won’t beat the system. There are variations but these dominant elements key into the dreams and realities many audiences face. Making them easy for audiences to identify with.

Finally, boxing films are pleasurably familiar. In an ever-changing industry, boxing movies remain broadly similar. Keeping the genre accessible to new audiences and creatives.

Same Game New Era

But while predictable these films have evolved. After years of ignoring or erasing boxers of colour, international and women boxers the genre has seen a rise in movies focused on telling more stories from diverse perspectives. The genre has also continually experimented with fight presentation to make them feel more immediate. For example, The Fighter replicated televised fight aesthetics to add an element of realism, while Creed used a one-take setup to heighten tension. And there has been a growth in documentaries and biopics to bring renewed attention to important stories from boxing’s history. 

Ultimately the boxing film remains a cinematic fixture because it deals with themes that many people around the world can relate to, in ways that get us emotionally and intellectually invested. It provides both escapism and realism, while highly formulaic filmmakers always find new ways to present the stories and they act as a relatable window into the past, showing struggles that ring true across generations.

Also Read: PrizeFighter: The Boxing Biopic Starring Russell Crowe, Ray Winstone & Matt Hookings

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post The Eternal Appeal of the Boxing Movie appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.