Federer - Twelve Final Days - For the RFan in you.

 

Federer - Twelve Final Days

Documentary / English

87 mins / Prime Video

This sports documentary(??) is - Even in Roger Federer's own admission - is a home video, which am sure was sold to Prime video for a very good sum!. After all EVERYONE wants to know more about the one of the most decorated sportsman, arguably the greatest achiever in Tennis ( beyond just the number of Grand Slams).

The movie chronicles the happenings from 14 Sep 2022 - when Roger Federer posted his recorded retirement speech, through his last professional tennis appearance at the Laver Cup on 23 Sep 2022.

Quite frankly, as a "documentary" it offers very precious insights beyond this period - If one is looking to know how a ball kid from Basel became one of the greatest sporting icons in history, his rivalries with Nadal and Djokovic - this one does not offer too much insight.

However, if you are a fan (like me and countless others) who wants to torturously relive THAT Laver cup weekend ,  this one is definitely for you. One definitely get a more intimate view into the behind the scenes happenings, the locker room chats, the immediate reactions from his colleagues and eventually their engagement on court - especially when the last time "FEDAL" appear on court, sadly denying him a fairytale end.

What one does get is some insight into the great man's friendship with Rafa Nadal. For the world to even believe that two great rivals of sport are actually such good friends off court seems unfathomable - especially when they were both paving their own ways to greatness.  Those bits definitely tug one's heart. 

Even more eye opening is Roger's acknowledgement of his misjudgement of Novak Djokovic as a player and eventually being the "party crasher" of the Rafa / Roger fans is good to hear. Without saying what they discussed on THAT NIGHT - Roger tells us how Novak is often misunderstood as a person, while appreciating his tenacity, his competitiveness. 

While the world has seen ALL the images of Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer bawling uncontrollably , this video shows many times how Novak is overcome by emotion (and does not appear to be a show!).

So, yes - i saw this because i was a fan , reliving the day (and night) that i silently wept as i saw those images of fiercely competitive once in a generation sportsmen holding hands, sobbing uncontrollably, gathering to say good bye to  an icon of the sport and one of my idols growing up  - Roger Federer.