Best Spots Documentaries

We are living in the golden age of sports documentaries. In under four decades, the genre has gone from a niche subject area to one of the most viewed and streamed content on digital media. From movies to television series, sports documentaries have become immensely popular among sports fans and non-sports fans alike and continues to receive critical acclaim. Sports films such as OJ: Made In America (2017), Icarus (2018), and Free Solo (2019) have gone on to win the last three out of four Oscar winners in the documentary feature category. From Formula One to Football, new forms of story-telling are taking over our screens. Sitting with one of 'Ek Dum Karak' podcast host, Aawez Hashmi, we list our favorite sports docs in no particular order. 

Formula One: Drive To Survive

Formula One (F1) is driven by adrenaline, skill, spectacle, and entertainment. All these are fine narratives to push its new sports documentary Drive to Survive towards success. The 10-part series made by producer James Gay-Rees and Netflix peels away from the mechanical spectacles of the industry to reveal the heated contract discussions, clashes, and emotions rarely seen in race weekend coverage. Although the big names - Ferrari and Mercedes - refused to feature in the first season, Netflix was successful in producing an intriguing series. While such a series would be unthinkable under Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, Liberty Media, the current F1 owners deserve credit for realizing that it is important to sell the drama and the spectacle of the sport.

Across the series, the sport has found in itself a cult hero, Haas Team Boss Günther Steiner, and the Italian's constant effing and jeffing has been captivating for fans and non-fans alike. These emotions, rarely seen in public from Formula 1 personnel, brings an unfamiliar warmth to the characters in the paddock. Whether you are an avid race fan or not, the show is still worth the watch. For those new to F1, the gritty, dramatic, and comedic snippets in the show are certainly strong enough for the series to appeal to a wider market, meaning there's something in the show for everyone. 

The Test

The fall and the eventual rise of the Australian Cricket team in the modern-day sport. Sports are synonymous with producing heroes, staging the most cinematic comebacks, and sometimes creating the lowest of low moments. Why watch this show? Cricket fans would have seen players have a bad day on the field and react in front of thousands of fans. But in the dressing rooms? The thousands shrink to a few of their teammates and coaches. This is where The Test works, as Amazon Prime Video has been successful in capturing the raw emotions and the intensity of the locker room. 

Giving access to areas one could not have thought of, you'll quickly realize the magnitude of the sport, the immense pressure when it comes to preparing for the big games, and what it means to everyone presenting their country in cricket, or any sport in general. Whether you love or despise the Australian cricket team, The Test on Amazon Prime covers the 18 months from the Cape Town sandpaper scandal to retaining the Ashes at the end of 2019 with the help of Steve Smith's supreme performance. We know the stories and the results, but find out what it took to get there. 

The Last Dance

This new documentary seems to be the obsession among all sports fans, and rightly so. Taking us back to the 1990s is the ESPN and Netflix documentary The Last Dance, based on Michael Jordan's all-conquering Chicago Bulls and their hunt for a sixth NBA title in the 1997-98 season with never-seen-before footage. To his name, Michale Jordan has six NBA titles, a 14-time All-Star, a five-time NBA MVP, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, the Air Jordan trainer brand, and Space Jam the movie. We reserve the argument "Whether Jordan is basketball's true GOAT" for another day, but Jordan certainly had to work to create his legacy. For Jordan, being a bully was the cost of being a winner and a leader.

“I mean, winning has a price. And leadership has a price. So I pulled people along when they didn’t want to be pulled. I challenged people when they don’t want to be challenged. And I earned that right because my teammates came after me. They didn’t endure all the things that I endured.” - Michael Jordan

Why watch this show? The show is a great recipe for the perfect drama: mystery; tragedy; unbreakable alliances; and strong supporting characters. The show's trajectory constantly shifts between an amateur Michale Jordan to his golden years at the Chicago Bulls filling in fans on some of Jordan's mysterious life and his career-defining moments. As entertainment, the series delivers in every way by evoking a sense of nostalgia with a blend of never-seen-before archival footage and present-day interviews. ESPN Films has spared no expenses in the visual and audio elements to the viewing experience and has successfully projected Michael Jordan for what he truly is, a colossus of the sporting world. It’s impossible to walk away from an episode of The Last Dance and think of Jordan as anything other than one of the fiercest competitors and athletes. 

Fire in Babylon

With the growing support for the Black Lives Matter moment, and the cricketing world has united in its stance against racism. Building up to the West Indies Cricket team's second test against England, Fire in Babylon is essential viewing. In the words of legendary West Indies bowler Michael Holding, the quest for excellence was "more significant than just cricket" for the West Indies players in the 1970s and 80s. Dominating their competitors with fierce fast-bowling and hard-hitting batsmen in their line-up, the Windies felt that cricket was a "matter of feeling of worth". The 2010 documentary film is deeply influenced by framing West Indian cricket's deep political meaning as the sport has played a central role in the expression of a unified West Indian identity. Stevan Riley’s film explores the swagger of the Windies team, showcasing the brilliance of individuals such as Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, Malcolm Marshall, and many more.

Concrete Football 

For many living in the Parisian banlieues, the local football pitch is the heart of their community. ‘Concrete Football’ or ‘Ballon sur Bitume’ has been successful in catching the hearts of the viewers, whether you are into football or not. The beauty of street football: a time when rules can be bent, no scores being kept, and a moment of togetherness and joy all around the world. Giving an insight to the difficulties of young men finding solace and joy on the concrete pitches of France, the documentary also features local heroes turned international stars, such as Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur's Serge Aurier and Barcelona's Ousman Dembele. The development of professional football owes a great debt to the games that are played on the streets of France. This one-of-a-kind project is a visual treat for football fans, set to soundtracks that bring together classical music and hip hop basslines, making it a delight to watch.

Two Nations, One Obsession

Cricket has offered up some fierce rivalries and none more so that between India and Australia. The two test playing nations are proud cricketing nations, rich in the history of the sport, and Peter Dickson and his team at Dickson Films have traveled extensively to explore the fascinating rivalry, and what makes these 2 nations unique --from its inception until the present day. The story extensively explores the 1986 Madras test match, the 2001 series which is widely regarded as one of the best cricket series, and the 'monkey gate' scandal. The rise of the Indian cricket team and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) into powerhouses of the game has been chronicled in detail, going behind the scenes to hear from the stars, coaches, and officials involved in the game. The interviewees included in the feature documentary are Alan Border, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Adam Gilchrist just to name a few. 2 Nations 1 Obsession isn't just an epic cricket story -- it's a tale of how two countries with such different DNA -- can be brought together for the love of a game.

Disclaimer: All footage credit belongs to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YARD, Cricket Australia and Dickson Films. This video is not meant for commercial purposes or gaining profits.

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