A Documentary Review of 'Rapinoe'
Rebeca Huntt's latest documentary, 'Rapinoe,' provides an intimate exploration into the life of the renowned U.S. soccer player, Megan Rapinoe, as she transitions into retirement. The film aims to go beyond widely known facts, offering a personal glimpse into Rapinoe's journey post-2023. Through a relaxed directorial approach and Rapinoe's characteristic charisma, the documentary successfully engages and inspires viewers. However, its timing, coming so soon after her retirement, inherently leaves it feeling incomplete, setting the stage for future developments that are not fully realized within the film's 92-minute duration. Despite this, it presents a compelling look at a global athlete in a period of significant personal and professional change.
The documentary, which premiered at TIFF, chronicles Rapinoe's life from her early years to the present, utilizing a blend of archival home videos, news segments, game footage, and both pre-existing and new interviews. Even for those with limited familiarity with soccer, the film covers well-known milestones of her career: her World Cup victories, Olympic achievements, her public coming out, her advocacy for equal pay within the U.S. National Men's Team, and her solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, including the resulting public scrutiny. Huntt's stylistic choice to present much of the footage with a warm, grainy aesthetic, complemented by '90s camcorder-style digital captions for dates and locations, imbues the film with a sense of rawness and intimacy.
This intimate atmosphere is further enhanced by candid interviews with those closest to Rapinoe, including her parents, her twin sister and former soccer player Rachael, and her ex-partner, WNBA star Sue Bird. These personal accounts contribute to a portrayal that feels both flattering and unvarnished. However, the most compelling aspect of 'Rapinoe' is Rapinoe herself. Known for her unfiltered and authentic persona, she comes across in the film as effortlessly charming, spontaneous, remarkably self-aware, and unwavering in her individuality. Whether she's reclining on a sofa as if in a therapy session (though never for long), sharing a ready grin, or speaking openly about her thoughts, feelings, and even her regrets, Rapinoe consistently captivates the audience.
The film skillfully creates an illusion of closeness, making viewers feel as though they are part of Rapinoe's inner circle, privy to her private moments. This includes scenes where she reflects on what might be her final match while performing her skincare routine or moments during an intense physical therapy session. This sense of intimate access elevates 'Rapinoe' above many contemporary celebrity documentaries, which often tend to deify their subjects rather than present them as relatable individuals. Despite this closeness, the documentary maintains certain boundaries, offering no major revelations. Its most intriguing narrative thread involves Rapinoe's discussion of "disassociation" as a protective mechanism that fueled her career success but also hindered her emotional connection.
Rapinoe reveals that beginning therapy in recent years has diminished this protective armor, making self-reflection more prominent and, as the film suggests, potentially influencing her missed penalty kick at the 2023 World Cup. Yet, 'Rapinoe' leaves the concept of disassociation somewhat vague, failing to fully articulate its meaning or how it has transformed Rapinoe's perspective on life. While individuals are not obligated to disclose their most private therapeutic experiences, the film's frequent mention of disassociation by Rapinoe and her inner circle makes its lack of precise exploration noticeable. This ambiguity might stem from Rapinoe's own ongoing processing of this insight, as she describes feeling like her "old operating system" is obsolete without a clear replacement.
The documentary concludes with Rapinoe expressing anticipation for her next life phase, with only a brief textual hint at her continued work as an activist, podcaster, and sports commentator. Ultimately, the film appears to prioritize reminding her audience of their own potential. In one of its final moments, Rapinoe asserts her unwavering self-acceptance and identity. The documentary concludes with her reciting a Mary Oliver poem, prompting viewers to consider their own lives, implicitly suggesting that Rapinoe's journey serves as an example for others to ponder and draw inspiration from, rather than a definitive blueprint for her future.
