Mudbloods

Director: Farzad Nikbakht
Length: 89 mins
Country: USA

 I must admit, when I heard that someone had made a documentary about Quidditch, the Harry Potter fan within me squealed in excitement. Mudbloods, however doesn’t pander to me or the thousands of Harry Potter fans around the globe. This is documentary for everyone who has played a sport or thought of it at least. Don’t let the title fool you; this is a sports documentary through and through, about the very real collegiate sport of Quidditch. Directed by Farzad Sangari, Mudbloods primarily follows the UCLA Quidditch team, led by captain and founder Tom Marks on their journey to the 5^th Quidditch World Cup in New York City. Running parallel to this is an exploration of the world around the sport through the eyes of Alex Benepe, Commissioner of the International Quidditch Association and Katie Aiani, the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan.

That rapid shift from competition to camaraderie is the final essence of Quidditch that is delivered to the audience.

The film’s greatest achievement is its ability to make you forget that nine years ago Quidditch only existed alongside witches and wizards and 18 years ago ‘Quidditch’ wasn’t even a word yet. The only time we’re reminded of the fantasy world origins of the sport is during the short segments that focus on Aiani and the (muggle) fans that support the Harry Potter universe. In her segments, Aiani only briefly mentions the sport, making these shifts seem a little disjointed. However, as the documentary presses on we begin to see a picture of not just a sport but also the community that brings its players together.

Benepe describes the sport as a cross between rugby and dodgeball so it’s by no means a passive sport. They may be running with broomsticks between their legs but these athletes mean business. You see full on front tackles and people being thrown off brooms. This is where the camerawork deserving of a sports channel shines. Yet the only pre-requisite you need to play Quidditch is the willingness to play Quidditch. The co-ed sport, while athletic, accepts all players.

One of the key elements that makes you rally behind the UCLA team is the strong sense of community fostered within. You see Marks’ passion as he leads the team, you watch them fundraise months in advance to make it to the World Cup and you watch them bond both on and off the pitch.

The balance between competitiveness and inclusivity is exemplified by the unabashed individuality of the people depicted in the documentary. The film doesn’t hide the ‘nerdy’ perception that comes with playing a sport born out of a fantasy book series. The subjects of the documentary all recognize the perception that comes with playing Quidditch but they take it in their stride. From Benepe and his Commissioner uniform complete with top hat and snitch-topped staff, to Aiani and her Harry Potter robes and wall-to-wall memorabilia, to the Quidditch rappers on the UCLA team whose raps are incorporated into the film’s soundtrack, the people in this film truly inspire you to be yourself in every sense possible.

By the film’s final act, when you see the different college teams parade into the World Cup stadium behind banners, some wearing capes, enveloped by the cheers of thousands fans, you’d have forgotten that an hour ago you saw these same athletes talk about being called nerds and dorks. The final act is what seals the whole documentary together. We go from the intense scenes of the World Cup final to the intimate end-of-year banquet for the UCLA team. That rapid shift from competition to camaraderie is the final essence of Quidditch that is delivered to the audience. That’s what distinguishes Mudbloods from other sports documentaries. It’s more about sportsmanship than it is about a single sport.

The Guardian called Mudbloods “an inspirational sports film” which I find quite apt. It serves as an inspiration not just to athletes but also to non-athletes; to those who’ve always just been on the fringe of things. That’s the real beauty of Mudbloods: it’s relatable to such a diverse audience.  It inspires audiences to embrace themselves and at the same time go all out, be it on or off the pitch.

In addition if you buy a download of the film at http://www.mudbloodsmovie.com/ and enter the code WARWICK at the checkout, you will receive a US$1 discount and US$1 will go to the University of Warwick Quidditch team!