Netflix's annual UNTOLD sports documentary series hits big withUNTOLD: The Girlfriend Who Never WasI'm back. A two-part film that retells him one of the strangest stories in college football history. In 2012, Fighting Irish's undefeated regular Heisman appeared as a trophy contender in his season, Notre Dame linebacker Manti, and sports fans and the general public were captivated by his Theo's inspiring story. I was. Theo's success was set against the backdrop of a personal tragedy. His grandmother and girlfriend died separately on the same day in September, and he dedicated the season to them...the only problem. His girlfriend never existed.
Unpublished: The Girlfriend Who Never Was: Stream or skip.
Bottom Line: An All-American footballer who is one of the most famous teams in his sport. A touching story of overcoming heartbreaking loss. exciting season. It was like straight out of a fairy tale book...and maybe because it was all fiction after all. Reports surfaced that his girlfriend, Renai Kekua, never existed. In the story that first revealed the concept of "catfish fishing" to millions, the public finally learned about the elaborate and astonishing fiction woven by Naya Tuiasosopo, an acquaintance of Theo.
What movie does it remind you of?: The Girlfriend Who Never Was kicks off the second wave of standalone documentaries on Netflix's UNTOLD The Shows series follows five very good independent films in 2021. This is Netflix's answer to ESPN's long-running 30 For 30 series, but by no means an afterthought. These are justifiably good documentaries and some of the best sports content Netflix has to offer.
Notable performances: The story's two central characters, Manti Teo and his catfish, Tuia Sosopo (currently out as a trans woman, she is the story's broken (not when, or when many of the other persons involved were interviewed). The entire story exists between the actions of Theo and Tuia Sosopo, and the fact that they are both involved makes this a particularly balanced retelling. increase. He sounds like a man who has carried the weight of the world on his shoulders since he first learned to walk.
Memorable dialogue: ``My father asked me what I wanted to be when he was five years old.'' Theo recalls his upbringing. the best. He literally took it and trained me. Sports broadcaster Alex Flanagan recalled the heavy burden for Theo as he entered Notre Dame as a freshman. Notre Dame had high hopes for him even before he set foot on campus. There were expectations that he would make an impact as soon as he arrived in South Bend.
Gender and Skin: None. There is discussion of gender identity, but nothing sexual.
Our take: College football is a place of incredible characters, incredible stories and incredible things.
In light of that, the story of Manti Theo and Renai Kekau was astonishing.
But first we need to understand the context. Notre Dame is perhaps the most idiosyncratic brand in college football. From Knute Rockne to Rudy, school is virtually synonymous with sport, love it or hate it. (Full disclosure: I fall into the latter camp.) But by the end of its life, the program had fallen into a long and frustrating lull. They weren't vying for titles, they weren't dominating the national conversation.As the saying goes, they weren't waking up an echo.
Manti Teo's arrival on campus ushered in a new era. The team was gearing up under new head his coach Brian Kelly. Things came to a head during Theo's senior season in 2012. The Irish started the season unranked but won and continued to win. A 12-game winning streak, an undefeated season, and a date with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game.
In nearly every game, viewers heard about the team's best player and emotional center, Manti his Theo. And in every discussion of Manti Teo, we hear about the tragedy of Theo's girlfriend, Renai Kekua, who died earlier in the season. Theo dedicated her own season to her. It was a great season. It was unbelievable. Even Ireland's eventual loss to Alabama in the title game didn't dampen it. Theo played well in the game and was predicted to go to the first round of the NFL Draft. A reporter from the website Deadspin did some informed research and found that Kekua was not a real person, but a hoax perpetrated by her acquaintances at Te'o. It wasn't clear when Theo knew or knew the truth, or how willing he was to continue with the fiction, but he quickly became the butt of jokes on the internet and on late-night TV. became.
Nearly a decade later, the story is still hard to believe, but far enough away to appreciate its complexity. Instead of treating the story as a farce, as many did at the time, treat it as a tragedy. Learn about the pressures Theo faced throughout his life and how Tuiasosopo struggled with discomfort. No one is allowed to act within the story, but the necessary amount of nuance and context is provided here. These are people, not punch lines.
Our call: Stream it. Netflix hasn't missed one of his UNTOLD documentaries yet. It's an incredible story and more than worth it.