Dunk or Die sounds like a video game from the 1980s or a power up you can earn from an arcade game in the 1990s. Instead, it is a documentary about Kadour Ziane, a man who grew up in France and mastered the slam dunk. It is also a look at the physical and emotional toll perfection costs. The film is heartfelt and exciting and sounds like any other sports documentary. So, how is it different?
Director Nicolas de Virieu does not break from documentary convention. His film is a look at Ziane from when he flirted with a life of crime to the global sensation he would become. Dunk or Die chronicles the decisions he made and his growth as a person along the way.
Though it follows a familiar pattern, things still feel different. While clips of Ziane’s amazing dunks can be easily found online, he is not the household name that other documentaries feature. This gives the film a more grounded feeling that makes it more relatable. This is the most noticeable part of Dunk or Die. Most documentaries have an underdog theme, but they never really connect with the audience. They are more of a series of “did you know?” factoids. Ziane’s story is filled with moments that could be plucked from the average person’s life. The film emphasizes the hard word that made the dunker so popular.
When the film does follow the documentary formula, it still seems fresh. Yes, there are the talking heads and archival footage. But, the interviews are interesting and the footage is fun to watch. Dunk or Die also provides closure not normally seen in the genre. Obviously, Ziane is older, but there is also a sense that everything he has learned in life has made in wiser.
Dunk or Die comes to digital platforms February 22
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