DISABLED MOVIE HITS MULTIPLEX
Pick
up a movie magazine, turn the page of a newspaper to the film section
or scourer the web for a review of the latest blockbuster, all the articles
have two things in common. They are written by film enthuasit and they
have seen the film already, probably at a special plush screening or been
sent a special DVD from the film distributor. Which is why this report
about the new film, Murderball is a bit different. We like going to see
a movie, but aren't lovers of the big screen and also, just to make this
a tad more tricky, we haven't actually seen the film yet!
Which is why we aren't going to review the film. Although here's a very
brief synopsis of what the movie is all about. Murderball is a film based
on the sport of the same name, although it's now know as 'Quad Rugby'.
Where a group of quadriplegics, who have lost limbs thanks to terrible
accidents, battle it out in their wheelchairs. The film/ documentary follows
two teams and their participation and partnership of the game on and off
the court. The movie receive critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival
2005 and even wheeled away with the Documentary Audience Award and a Special
Jury Prize for Editing. Whilst you can catch the film during November
in the UK here's some background on the sport itself.
Just as football where the history dates back from an unidentified date
when a group of lads made goalposts from a pair of jumpers and a round
thing which was kicked about, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where
Quad Rugby really started off. The game started from wheelchair sports,
such as wheelchair ice hockey and basketball. But it was a Canadian called
Brad Mikkelsen who introduced the game in the States with the help of
the University of North Dakota's Disabled Student Service's and shortly
after, the first team called the Wallbangers was formed.
In 1982 the Uni hosted the first Murderball international tournament and
six years later the USQRA was formed. For the uneducated Murderball readers
that stands for, the United States Quad Rugby Association. Thanks to the
USQRA the game became an international sport and was now known as Quad
Rugby. The original title, Murdeball was given to the game because of
it's aggressive incentive. Murderball/ Quad Rugby, call it what you like,
is now the most growing wheelchair sport in the world today.
To qualify as an official player you must have an impairment on the upper
and lower part of your body. So if you are able-bodied and want to play
we suggest you let the girlfriend drive you around - chances are you'll
then end up in a decent car crash and become a player, or die - one of
the two!
We were going to try and explain the game, but we are pretty crap when
it comes to descriptive stuff like that, but basically think volleyball
for people who can't walk or better still go and watch the movie which
is either at your local cinema or shoved somewhere in your Blockbuster
Video store.
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