As a tennis player, Ilie Năstase was formidable, but as a celebrity he proved to be an icon for the little man; a champion of the underdog. Romanian, brash and confident of his good looks, Năstase wandered into the realm with an air that shook up the conservative sport. He was, the documentary points out, a rock star in athletic gear.
Năstase – older and more eloquent than he was in his heyday – gives an overview of his life; joined by luminaries of such a calibre as Rafael Nadal. The talking heads speak passionately of a titan who swerved his racket on the pitch, laughing at some of the more questionable monikers he held for them. Năstase used terms like “Macaroni” and “Negroni” in order to address his colleagues in the sport; monikers that raised eyebrows at the time he uttered them. “I’m very passionate,” says Năstase, his only admission of guilt.
Nasty-More Than Just Tennis is a hagriographic affair: A subplot surrounding Serena Williams and her unborn child is dropped almost as soon as it is mentioned. Tellingly, the film shies away from addressing Năstase’s questionable comments about female officials in 2017; not one of his ex-wives appears to give another side of the subject. Directors Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu&Tudor D Posecu only show the bouncier side of the player, which is the movie’s greatest weakness.
On the plus side, the archive footage is splendid in its collation, including a performance of ‘Globe Trotter Lover’, which was something of a signature number for the racketeer. Năstase was known for being fun loving, happy to offer his clothes to a friend in need of an outfit. He had a big heart, but – much like the roguish footballer George Best- ,he lacked the discipline needed in order to become as sports icon..
Năstase used his celebrity to champion causes close to his heart: the liberation of Romania Speaking to the camera in 1989, the sportsman discusses the tides of change, championing the progress. Keenly aware of his presence, the performer smirks, shuffles and stares longingly at the camera. Nasty: More Than Just Tennis comes out at a time when Challengers ( Luca Guadagnino, 2024) has brought a zestiness back to the tennisverse.
The movie is punctuated by a score from Marius Leftărache, bringing credence to the film. On the court, Năstase could twirl and pivot with a dancer’s grace, but it was sharp lip that elevated him in the media. “Call me Mr,” he bellowed at an umpire, one of the more humourous recordings from the 1970s. Arthur Ashe walked off a game in 1975 because he found his opponent’s conduct unbecoming; John McEnroe was similarly rattled by the posturings.
The triumvirate of directors choose an equitable style for the work, although it wouldn’t hurt if the commentators talked about any lessons they learned from Năstase’s irascible actions. He energised the sport, but in an effort to bring urgency to it, tennis changed from an appealing game into a more aggressive one. Ultimately, whatever misgivings these people have stay hidden from the finished cut. One woman discusses his “lips”, praising his work as a lover.
Concentrated solely on what it has, Nasty: More Than Just Tennis is an impressive overview of an athlete’s work: both as a person, and a sportsman. It will more likely attract an audience that recalls Năstase’s care-free, hedonistic days; newer fans will get a kick out of the interviews. No one looks more surprised than the titular character when an enthusiast young enough to be his grandchild goes up to him for a photograph. Chuckling, the elder tennis player indulges the novice, sharing a smile as the camera clicks. Whether or not the film will have a similar shelf life is too soon to say, but it does help the Romanian performer continue his trajectory.
Nasty: More Than Just Tennis premiered in the 77th edition of the Festival de Cannes, when this piece was originally written. Also showing in the Game On Romanian Days section of the 23rd edition of Tiff Romania, and at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights.
