The Sunday Times - London

Features
Storyville
Martin James

10/31/1999

First screened in Canada, where The Ottawa Citizen newspaper described it as
"a tale as bizarre as Kafka and as tragic as Shakespeare", Paul Jay's
extraordinary documentary takes viewers into the weird world of North American televised professional wrestling. Specifically, it is the story of Bret "the Hitman" Hart, a muscle- bound man in pink tights - although you would be well advised not to laug at him. A clear career path was laid at the sizable feet of Hart as a young man: his father was a wrestler, his seven brothers are all wrestlers, and his four sisters all married wrestlers - one can only imagine what the yuletide family game of Twister looks like.

Set against the backdrop of competition between the WOW and WWF stables, both of which vie for the Hitman's services, the chronicle of his career is also a
tale touching on themes of loyalty, honour, morailty and the nature of heroism. It becomes clear that, despite the choreography and showmanship of the bouts and the surrounding hype, there is real athieticism and pain involved. The Hitman started out as a good guy but was turned into a baddie by his promoter - and you can tell it does not suit him. He is also uncomfortable with a lowering of standards of taste in the presentation of the shows, which some might think is a bit rich, but he come across as a regular guy, and not used to being stitched up like he is on the final bell.