Review by Smee
When I started playing rugby two-and-a-half years ago, I knew two things: 1) everyone as going to remind me that I was in my 40s and not my 20s, and 2) everyone knew who the All Blacks were, thanks to their performance of the haka, or Maori warrior dance, prior to every match. Much like Texas and football, rugby is the national religion in New Zealand and everyone picking up a ball wanted to be selected for the All Blacks. One of the most celebrated players from the team is captain Richie McCaw. An already fascinating person, the documentary film “Chasing Great” gives us more insight into what drove McCaw – and the All Blacks as a whole – to become one of the greatest sportsmen in the world.
“Chasing Great” follows McCaw during the 2015 Rugby World Cup season. Prior to the season, McCaw had already announced that he was hanging up his boots and stepping away from his already-lucrative career. New Zealand had won the 2011 World Cup and was attempting to be the first team ever to repeat as champions. The film shows the journey through the playoffs toward the finals in Twickenham in London, and throughout we are shown family home movies of Richie as a kid, starting his rugby career, throughout high school and his initial selection to the All Blacks. As McCaw says during the film, “When your last match as an All Black is the World Cup, you either leave really happy or really sad” and “Chasing Great” does an excellent job of capturing the highs and lows of a high-paced game like international XVs rugby. Already a fan of McCaw’s, this documentary has further solidified my idea of him being one of the greatest of all time.
“Chasing Great” is written and directed by Justin Pemberton and Michelle Walshe, and opening in New York March 2, 2018.
