SUBSCRIBE NOW

SIGHT

Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

ON THE SCREEN: EDDIE THE EAGLE THE UPLIFTING STORY OF AN UNDERDOG MADE GOOD

DAVID ADAMS finds Eddie the Eagle a story with heart...

Eddie the Eagle (PG)

In a word: Uplifting

Michael “Eddie” Edwards had been written off by everyone – British Olympic officials, competitors, even his own father – “It’s a world that doesn’t want to know ya,” he tells his son.

But thanks in part to his determination and his love of “proving people wrong”, Eddie achieved his dream of competing in the Winter Olympics.

“In this, an Olympic year, and at a time when drug cheating in sport continues to make headlines around the world as athletes seek ever harder for the winning edge, the message of this film is timely.”

Eddie the Eagle tells the “based on truth” story of Eddie’s journey from plasterer to competitor in the sport of ski jumping at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics in Canada.

Edwards had long dreamed of being an Olympian but couldn’t find his niche until he changed tack and decided to become a Winter Olympian. Taking up downhill skiing, he achieved some small success until he was informed that he’d never be good enough to make Britain’s Olympic team.

Turning instead to ski jumping – a decision largely driven by the fact that Britain hadn’t entered into the event for decades, Edwards (played by Taron Egerton) battles against officialdom alone until he encounters former US champion ski jumper Bronson Peary (played by Hugh Jackman) at a training facility in Germany who, due in large part to Edward’s dogged determination, agrees to help him. It’s a relationship that is rewarding for them both – in fact, while this is the story of how Edwards got to the Winter Olympics, it’s also that of Peary’s redemption.

Director Dexter Fletcher keeps the tone light and humourous from the get-go and while many will know the basics of the story, Eddie the Eagle still manages to keep a sense of suspense throughout. But the film’s strength is its heart, rather than action you’ll see on screen.

In that vein, the film makes much of a couple of quotes from Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, in particular that the “most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part”. It’s a sentiment that lies at the heart of this film, aptly illustrated when the somewhat aloof Finnish ski champion Matti Nykanen (played by Edvin Endre) says to Edwards just before their final runs that, for them, it’s not the medals that matter but the thought that they gave their very best.

In this, an Olympic year, and at a time when drug cheating in sport continues to make headlines around the world as athletes seek ever harder for the winning edge, the message of this film is timely. Amid the tawdriness with which so much of our high-level sport is now tainted, Eddie the Eagle’s story is illustrative of what it should really be all about. Let’s hope the right people are watching.

Eddie the Eagle is the story of an underdog who makes good despite the overwhelming odds against him (and the pain of bad landings). It’ll leave you feeling lighter.

THREE MORE FILMS…BASED ON REAL LIFE SPORTS STORIES

Cool Runnings (1993) – Another story from the 1988 Winter Olympics, that of the Jamaican bobsled team.

Chariots of Fire (1981) – A classic film about sacrifice, prejudice and conviction.

Invictus (2009) – How a rugby team helped unite a country torn apart by apartheid.

 

Donate



sight plus logo

Sight+ is a new benefits program we’ve launched to reward people who have supported us with annual donations of $26 or more. To find out more about Sight+ and how you can support the work of Sight, head to our Sight+ page.

Musings

TAKE PART IN THE SIGHT READER SURVEY!

We’re interested to find out more about you, our readers, as we improve and expand our coverage and so we’re asking all of our readers to take this survey (it’ll only take a couple of minutes).

To take part in the survey, simply follow this link…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.