Genre: Documentary
Actor: Simone Biles
As one of the most decorated Olympians in history, the gymnast Simon Biles hardly needs an introduction. It’s better to see her in action, anyway, than read her endless accolades, which is why Simone Biles: Rising wastes no time launching into action and getting to the heart of the matter. The documentary begins with Biles’ controversial exit from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and rehashes the harsh and unfair criticism she received soon after. We see the toll this takes on Biles and understand how widespread of a problem it actually is--the expectations, the pressures, the sheer physical and mental struggle to go beyond what is humanly possible. The film challenges our ideas of heroism and athleticism, and by the second episode, it touches on something more poignant as Biles shares her traumatic past as a fostered kid and a Black girl breaking into a sport dominated mostly by white, blonde women. With all the twists and turns the dramatic series puts us through, it expertly sets up Biles (and our hopefully more compassionate excitement) for her much-awaited comeback in Paris.
