The Hoop Dreams of demolition derbies, Speedo follows one remarkable competitor, Ed "Speedo" Jager, as he bashes up cars, cares for his two kids and navigates a loveless marriage. Jager's sport is the kind of subject that might have been treated with either smirking irony or an unwarranted seriousness; instead, director Jesse Moss nimbly steers a route between the two. Moss recognizes the humor in Jager's obsession with crunching metal, but also shows a deep affection and respect for this decidedly low-rent pastime. The terrific derby footage, combined with Moss's sensitive handling of Jager's stormy domestic life, elevates Speedo into something unexpected, a film about the nobility of human endeavor. (JS)

Speedo official site

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