Tanya’s Score: Good-and-a-half*
Rated: PG-13
Starring: American gymnasts – current and former; a predator dressed up in a dorky doctor costume
Plot: This documentary focusses on the U.S. gymnastics scandal from 2016 where team doctor Larry Nassar is exposed as a vile predator who has been assaulting girls for decades under the guise of conducting medical procedures.
Tanya’s Verdict: Be advised this documentary is upsetting as much as it is eye-opening. The film begins with gymnast after gymnast after gymnast discussing her respective relationship with team doctor Larry Nassar as well as the disturbing procedures he conducted on them. Slowly but surely, the audience starts to understand how sinister and calculated his actions were.
As the film moves forward, so does the level of conspiracy and cover-up involved with Nassar’s behaviour and actions. Coaches claiming to “care” about their gymnasts; who pledge they only act in the gymnast’s “best interest” are exposed for what they truly value: money, power, and a scandal-free career.
The last part of the movie focusses on the survivors and their specific victim impact statements. Several of them hit like a punch to the gut.
This movie is a reminder that it only takes a few brave souls to step forward and not back down wherever there is harm, destruction and injustice in the world. In this case, they were a few brave souls that grew into a few hundred strong girls and women – they didn’t back down, they didn’t shut up, they didn’t give in.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great