The American system of high school and collegiate sport has often been a source of fascination for documentary filmmakers, be it following a future legend in 2008’s More Than A Game (Kristopher Belman), or the gifted misfits of Netflix’s series Last Chance U. All American takes a different path, however, as it looks at athletes who face a more complicated path to victory.
Director Mark Andrew Altschul follows three young women who compete as high school wrestlers, a sport that is often hampered through a lack of funding and outdated attitudes. There’s Naomi, a teenager from the island of Dominica looking to push herself against more privileged athletes; Jojo, whose academic prowess means she may have to leave her sporting dreams behind; and Arham, a young woman living in a youth shelter due to her religious family’s disapproval of her passion. Over the course of five years, all three paths find community and hope in amateur wrestling, and the families formed within their teams.
For those unfamiliar with the background of this sport, it’s an eye-opening look into the liberating nature of competition. Moreover, it’s an examination of what happens when a system ignores that liberation, meaning the youngsters have to become activists as well as contenders. It’s sobering to see the fight Naomi and others have to even be allowed to practice, as organisations become hesitant to sanction or fund women’s sports in the same way as men’s. In competition, they deal with social media hatred and more, but their drive to succeed, and the motivation the sport gives them, is inspiring to see.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the journey is the economic side. Legends of the sport talk about raising money to fly to competitions, only to be handed frying pans as mocking trophies; while the sheer lack of schools who are able to fund wrestling programmes means the playing field can be unbalanced. Most telling is the subplot of Naomi’s competition against a wrestler from Upstate New York, whose financial and societal privilege stacks the odds in her favour.
Altschul reveals an argument that equality in sport goes beyond representation, it’s in the facilities and opportunities that enable the athletes to keep going. This is painfully apparent in the film’s third act, when college choices become limited and students are forced to choose between athletic achievement and academic success. Arham’s fate in particular is heartbreaking, as past trauma becomes a third pressure in her young life.
Equal parts uplifting and frustrating, All American gives an authentic and passionate tribute to those who overcome immense obstacles to pursue their dreams. As inclusion in sport becomes an increasingly common topic of conversation, this feels like a microcosm of a larger discussion.
All American premiered at the Heartland Film Festival. And click here in order to read our exclusive interview with director Mark Andrew Altschul.
