When We Were Kings, 2/2/13, Best Documentary, 1996
This movie focuses on the 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire. I would not describe myself as a boxing fan, and yet I find that I have watched many movies and documentaries about boxing; I think it’s more about the narrative that surrounds the boxers than the boxing. I think that is definitely true for this movie, which uses contemporaneous footage combined with interviews from roughly 20 years later. I like this style of making a documentary because it uses ‘real-time’ footage, no need for re-creations or re-enacting, but you have the benefit of time passing that allows for reflection and historical perspective. There are interviews with Ali who is engaging, smart, funny and has some really interesting things to say about African-American culture in America (this was filmed less than 10 years after many watershed civil rights events), visiting Africa, other fighters, including George Foreman; George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, notable writers who were at the fight and share their thoughts two decades after the fight; there is some footage of Foreman, but not even close to Ali’s screen time. There is so much more to this documentary than the fight, which gets about 15 minutes of screen time, like the fact the Zaire was once the Belgian Congo and had thrown off Belgian colonial rule in exchange for a homegrown dictator. Mailer, in particular, tells the story of the violence and torture that was in the air during that time. There is also a very clear difference in how Foreman and Ali are treated, and treat, their African hosts. Ali, with his gregarious and open personality, seems instantly beloved by the Zairians, talking, joking with them, learning about their life in Africa; Foreman ‘seems’ (you never really know how editing plays a part) to be disinterested in his hosts and their culture, bringing his German shepherd with him (the commentary indicates that the Belgians had used German shepherds during the colonial days, so this was seen as offensive). In addition to the fighters, there is also Don King, a commanding figure who still generates hearty discussion, and the great musicians that made the journey, including B.B. King and James Brown. What I kept thinking about as I watched the movie was how funny and articulate Ali was, and the things he was saying almost 40 years, could be said today to kids and education, drugs, even eating right. He certainly could be a divisive and outspoken person, but just from the documentary, I don’t think you can doubt his sincerity, even if you disagree with him. Muhammad Ali may be one of the best known Americans in the world, and this movie gives a brief insight into why. It didn't occur to me until the movie was almost over that it was the beginning of African-American History Month, but it was a fitting way to start. If you like boxing, Ali or Foreman, history, or a good story (especially if you don’t know how the fight ends), then you should watch this movie. Spike Lee makes an interesting point about how kids today don’t know anything about history, not just what happened 150 years ago, but what happened 20 years ago. This movie is one step in the right direction.
