‘Giannis: The Marvelous Journey’ Prime Video Review - Basketball Man

Giannis: The Marvelous Journey could have been just another lazy, noisy, "a collection of talking heads speaking dispassionately" type of documentary. But director Kristen Lappas saves us from boredom by giving us a neatly arranged, emotionally charged series of events. She applies the rags-to-riches formula effectively in her documentary. Hence, we don't passively watch interviewees discussing the main subject with a rehearsed, almost robot-like dedication. We engage with the story that is told to us using reminiscences and recreations.

It's all divided into a three-act structure, and each act brings Giannis Antetokounmpo closer to success as well as sadness. Act 1 informs us about Nigeria's harsh conditions (oil spill) that forced Giannis and his family to move to Greece. Turns out, things didn't get any better in this new country, as a violent group called Golden Dawn went after the immigrants. They discriminated on the basis of the color of their skin and assaulted, shamed, and robbed "people like Giannis." This is why a young Giannis and his brothers, after leaving the school's premises, used to run towards their home. This moment comes to your mind later when Giannis remembers how he once ran on the streets to reach a game on time when he couldn't withdraw cash to pay for the taxi.

A small moment like this indicates how much care Lappas has put into making this documentary. She has provided it with a solid - as well as a familiar - structure instead of letting it all play like a bunch of bullet points. In her hands, anecdotes shine amusingly. You smile when Giannis expresses how surprised he was when he was told his clothes would be washed by someone else. There is also a buffet incident that generates chuckles from within us. All this means that we are consistently in sync with the film's rhythms - we are attuned to its emotional frequency.

Those emotions are cleverly calculated to produce maximum reaction. For instance, we first hear about that time when Giannis' dad, Charles Antetokounmpo, bought a PS2 for his kids, and then we are told about his heart attack. Charles hangs around like a kind soul from the beginning to the end. His face exudes an affable vibe - a quality that can be found in every frame of this documentary. Giannis: The Marvelous Journey fills your head with good intentions. It will resonate with a large group of people because we all love listening to a good success story. Such stories fill dreamers with optimism, though how long that feeling lasts is another different story. Then again, not everybody can be Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Being at the top of your profession comes with its own pressure and its own difficulties. One bad game and people start talking about you negatively. For Giannis, the most crucial thing in his life is his family. They love each other so much that when everybody finally arrives in America, they continue living together in the same house even when they could have shifted to a larger dwelling. Sure, winning multiple Most Valuable Player Awards brings its own sets of joys and stress in life, but this Greek Freak must have probably found some relief in the fact that he is at least surrounded by his family.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times
Premiere Date: February 19, 2024, on Prime Video