THE ARMWRESTLER FROM SOLITUDE A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
Heidi Andersson is a small town girl. A really small town. She hails from the isolated but aptly named hamlet of Solitude on an island in Swedish Lapland. This mountainous town has only sixteen inhabitants, and all of them are related. More germane to the documentary THE ARMWRESTLER FROM SOLITUDE (ARMBRYTERSKAN FRÅN ENSAMHETEN) is that twelve of the townsfolk are active athletes -- all arm wrestlers engaged in the sport of "pulling." A four time world champion, Heidi is as winsome as she is winning. In an evening dress to accept another of her many awards she could easily pass for a fashion model or a Hollywood actress. A tall, thin blonde, she is a stunning woman who can beat all women and almost all men in arm wrestling.
I just wish the documentary was as powerful as Heidi's arms. Instead, what it shares most with her is its thinnest. Even at just seventy-eight minutes, it feels like it needs more material to flesh out the narrative. But, if you are looking for a positive film about female athletes or one win with a likeable lead, this movie supplies both.
THE ARMWRESTLER FROM SOLITUDE runs 1:18. The film is in English and in Swedish with English subtitles.
The film is being shown as part of San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival (www.Cinequest.org), which runs March 2-13, 2005.
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