Singapore International Film Festival 2018
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
Rating
PG13 Brief Coarse Language
Language
French / English - subtitles to be advised
Genre
Documentary, Sports
Cast
John McEnroe, Mathieu Amalric
Synopsis
John McEnroe was known for his talent and temper on the tennis court. This playful documentary deconstructs the champion at the height of his career and recasts him as an auteur. McEnroe the tennis legend is reinterpreted as McEnroe the director, bent on controlling every aspect of the game in his pursuit of perfection.
‘Cinema lies, sport doesn’t,’ said Jean-Luc Godard. With this inscription, director Julien Faraut launches his investigation into the nature of craft and competition. What begins as an analysis of McEnroe’s technique quickly evolves into a portrait of obsession and a rumination on the affinity between tennis and cinema. Exquisitely textured 16mm archival footage is paired with electronic music and classic film excerpts, to create an offbeat visual essay as unpredictable and ambitious as the former World No. 1 himself.