“Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story” is the most recent iteration of the previous world No.4’s tennis journey, charting the rise, fall, and rise once more of one in all Australia’s most beloved athletes.
Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 22 November 2024 | Matt Trollope
The commonest query you’re requested after telling folks you noticed Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story is “Oh wow, was it good?”
It’s a loaded query with a double-edged reply.
It’s good, when it comes to the standard of the film-making. The truth is, it’s wonderful; administrators Jessica Halloran and Ivan O’Mahoney weave collectively a documentary wealthy in interview expertise, depth of analysis, entry to archive footage and total consideration to element.
It’s additionally not good, when it comes to the subject material explored. Important chunks of Unbreakable have been decidedly unsettling to look at, as Dokic recounted in confronting element the bodily and psychological abuse she endured by the hands of her father.
However what it reveals is a very inspirational determine in Dokic – an athlete and individual with unimaginable preventing spirit and survival instincts whose work has the potential to vary lives.
She stated as a lot on stage on the Melbourne premiere of Unbreakable on the Astor Theatre, the place she was joined on stage by Halloran and O’Mahoney and the place she acquired a standing ovation on the conclusion of the screening.
“I’m emotional truly,” Dokic instructed the Melbourne viewers in a metropolis she has now known as residence for 12 years.
“It’s arduous to search out the phrases as a result of for me, that is what it’s about. It’s about you. We needed to inform a narrative – we simply needed to make a distinction.
“It’s not even in regards to the standing ovation, it’s in regards to the love that I really feel. Thanks. My coronary heart is full. You’ve made not simply my day, you’ve made this yr. I even say you’ve made my life – if I die at this time I’ll die a really completely satisfied individual.”
Halloran authored the unique “Unbreakable” e book launched in 2017 and has solid a detailed bond with Dokic. She was the primary journalist who immediately requested the Australian tennis star: Was she abused by her father?
Jelena Dokic credit Jess Halloran with saving her life, by way of the writing of ‘Unbreakable’, which is now a robust documentary, co-directed by Jess and Ivan O’Mahoney.
Interviewing this trio at packed Sydney and Melbourne premieres has been unforgettable. #UNBREAKABLE pic.twitter.com/eCOyZZaxRY
— Sam Lane (@SamJaneLane) November 20, 2024
This was thought-about an open secret within the sporting world, but it was the start of a cathartic course of for Dokic – she opened up in regards to the trauma she’d suffered all through her journey to turning into one of many world’s finest gamers, and ensuing psychological well being struggles.
The Unbreakable documentary is the most recent iteration of her story, the place O’Mahoney was introduced in to craft the movie model.
Dokic revealed O’Mahoney’s first lower spanned 5 hours, earlier than it was tightened to a compelling one hour and 40 minutes.
With out leaking too many spoilers, two moments significantly stood out.
Don’t miss Jelena Dokic’s unflinchingly trustworthy and uplifting documentary Unbreakable, now in cinemas. Jelena’s journey is a testomony to the facility of resilience and the human spirit. pic.twitter.com/tkhzQJA03H
— Craig Tiley (@CraigTiley) November 11, 2024
One was the footage of Dokic’s first-round overcome world No.1 Martina Hingis at Wimbledon in 1999, the second which catapulted her to superstardom. Whereas greater than 10,000 rapturous followers stood and applauded what they’d witnessed on No.1 Courtroom, Dokic vividly remembers that just one individual – her father, Damir – didn’t be a part of the applause.
This was heartbreaking for the then-16-year-old, who got here to understand that nothing she did – not even beating the world’s finest participant on the sport’s most storied event – would ever be sufficient to fulfill and earn reward from her father.
The opposite was the recounting of her Australian Open 2001 first-round match towards No.2 seed Lindsay Davenport.
This got here simply days after Damir pressured Jelena to sever ties with Australia and start representing Yugoslavia, the results of his conspiratorial perception that the draw had been rigged towards his daughter.
Dokic acquired a decidedly unwelcoming reception as she entered Rod Laver Area to face Davenport, who couldn’t neglect the uncomfortable ambiance wherein they competed. Throughout an emotional interview, the American revealed she acquired no pleasure from that win, and that she later comforted Dokic – distraught and dreading her upcoming press convention – within the locker room.
In her new documentary ‘Unbreakable’, Jelena Dokic reveals the horrific abuse she endured behind the scenes of a few of her best moments and she or he tells us how she is ready to stay so constructive and hopeful. pic.twitter.com/Y7GpV3BsZv
— The Venture (@theprojecttv) October 25, 2024
Within the post-screening dialogue on the Astor, Dokic famous the significance of together with this scene, and harassed to the viewers that representing Australia – whether or not or not it’s on the Olympics, Billie Jean King Cup or in entrance of residence followers at Australian tournaments – gave her the best pleasure of all.
Unbreakable additionally paperwork her preliminary steps within the sport in Serbia – together with interviews with a junior up to date and coach – then her work with Australian tennis legends Lesley Bowery and Tony Roche, who guided her in her teenage years in Sydney.
As her rise to junior world No.1 was lined, the viewers audibly reacted when she was pictured with fellow 1998 junior champion Roger Federer, a reminder of the heady heights she scaled.
Mark Philippoussis mentioned combining with the precocious expertise to win the Hopman Cup for Australia in 1999, however as she emerged on tour that season, Damir’s more and more erratic behaviour and controlling and violent tendencies started to take over, peaking in 2000 in Montreal – confronting scenes recalled by Dokic and fellow Australian Rennae Stubbs.
We see her proceed to rise – she received her greatest profession title in Rome in 2001, and peaked at world No.4 in 2002 – earlier than a pointy fall and disappearance from the game as her psychological well being spiralled.
But it is a documentary with an uplifting conclusion. She returned to representing Australia, stormed to the AO 2009 quarterfinals in a heartwarming fortnight at Melbourne Park, and in retirement has emerged as an esteemed tennis analyst and home violence advocate.
Dokic is evident about her ardour and objective in telling her story, explaining that if it helps only one different individual navigate their very own trauma and rise above it, then she has succeeded. And somewhat than feeling comprehensible bitterness and resentment after what she has endured, Dokic revealed she has chosen to strategy her work from a spot of empathy, love and kindness.
“I at all times say, look, fall down 100 occasions, lose 100 matches or lose 100 occasions in your life, however stand up 101,” she stated.
“On the finish of the day, that’s all that issues.”
Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, offered by Roadshow Movies and produced by In Movies Pty Ltd, is now screening throughout chosen cinemas in Australia.