DOX SPOT
, CHAMP
themselves to be screened at the festival as part of the “Kulturrucksack” workshop. Within the scope of this project, the students selected films for an entire programme block prior to the festival.
“Keep moving, don’t stand still” Esma’s trainer reminds her, “show her who’s boss”. The 14 year old girl from a disadvantaged neighbourhood in the Hague dreams of becoming the world’s greatest fighter. As a promising kickboxing talent she dreams of fame and wealth, her name will go down in history. Kickboxing is not only her ticket to all of that, but helps her cope with her anger as a healthy outlet in stressful times. Since Esma’s childhood her mother has been ill, making constant visits to the hospital a necessity. As Esma prepares for which will be her toughest fight yet, her mother needs to go to the hospital once again. Worrying about her, the kickboxing teen struggles to keep her head in the game. The numbing fear of losing her mother is weighing on her. Will she be able to put her fears to the side and stay focussed in the ring? Will all the hard work finally pay off? CHAMP’s strong female protagonist is trying to remain resilient, determined to give her best at all times. She is
Director: Cassandra Offenberg; cinematographer: Sam du Pon; editor: Eline Bakker. Hazazah Pictures in co-production with NTR, the Netherlands, 2019, 16’.
watch trailer convinced, if her mother can keep on fighting, so can she! At its core, this is a documentary about winning and losing with the moral evergreen being ‘Don’t give up!’. However, director Cassandra Offenberg’s powerful production transcends beyond this cliché. Rapid cuts creating tension, suspense interrupted by poetic pictures, the sweeping dreaminess of the gloomy light of a chandelier in the family home... Offenberg creates a hybrid form where reality and the sensory world meet. By using three different cameras – one digital, a 16 mm and a smartphone – she creates a unique atmospheric density. The imagery captures Esma’s life, enhanced
by the emotional quality of advice given by her trainer and mother. While the narrative style is quite artistic, the camera always engages at eye level with its protagonist. Finally, one of the keys to the film’s success surely constitutes Offenberg’s choice of music. Right from the opening scene, the music sets the pace, carefully coordinated to glimpse into Esma’s boxing career. The director knows exactly when, where and how to utilise it, to underline Esma’s challenges, successes and failures. CHAMP was honoured with the ECFA Doc Award at the 18th doxs! film festival in 2019. It was chosen by students
The Doxspot column is published with the help of the doxs! festival for children & youth documentaries in Duisburg and other cities in the Ruh Area. www.do-xs.de.
You’ll find an interview with director Cassandra Offenberg in the next ECFA Journal (May 2020).
9 | Journal 01 | 2020
