Get it straight: Wheelchair rugby (aka "murderball") is not a part of
the special Olympics. These guys aren't in it for hug and a smile, ok?
They're athletes, and, as competitors, nobody wants to win more than
them. This story, told with the speed and passion that characterizes
their matches, follows two men and their repeated clashes on and off the
court. Mark Zupan, the captain of the US team, is a tattoed badass and
former soccer player. Joe Soares, once the best of the best on the US
team, has now defected to coach the Canadian team to victory over his
former teammates. Their rivalry sets the stage for this engrossing look
at life after a life-changing accident and how these men deal with their
new reality. As gripping as any narrative feature, this finely-tuned
film moves like a well-built racecar, immersing the audience in a world
that most able-bodied people choose to ignore. The result is truly
inspiring as the directors eschew watery, feelgood moments in favor of
simple scenes of true human triumph.Just confirmed! Henry Alex Rubin, co-director of Murderball, will be appearing along with co-director Dana Shapiro and producer Jeff Mandel at the opening night screening of the film.
The Every Boy (Dana Adam Shapiro's debut novel)
Interview with Dana Adam Shapiro