Eammon Ashton-Atkinson’s excellent feature documentary lands in Glasgow following huge acclaim both in his homeland of Australia and at various other festivals across the planet. It is easy to see why the film has done so well as he has delivered a powerful, deeply personal film revolving around the Kings Cross Steelers, the world’s first gay rugby team.
The documentary centres on the Bingham Cup (or the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament) the biennial, inclusive, non-professional rugby tournament that brings together dozens of teams from around the world. This particular year (2018), the event is taking place in Amsterdam in Holland, and the ‘Steelers’ have traveled with their first team to compete under former international Nic Evans, their head coach. The documentary covers the whole event, but also focusses its attention on a number of individuals; Simon Jones, a member of the team who is overcoming depression, drag queen Andrew McDowell, and Evans herself, and her struggles in the game, both as a player, and her with her ongoing battle of being taken seriously as a female coach.
Ashton-Atkinson also shines the light on his own life and the issues he has had over the years, including when he was outed as a result of bullying at school. Arguably the film’s most powerful moment shows the filmmaker sat motionless in front of his computer editing the film, a blank screen in front of him with just his own voice recalling the incident on the soundtrack.
Other scenes show Jones recalling how playing rugby helped him cope with depression, and how his reintroduction to the sport via the Steelers had given him a regained sense of belonging; something I think we can all relate to in some way. More touching moments come with Evans talking about her own family in early life, and her passion for the game along with the hurdles she has experienced due to her gender. She tears up more than once – as did I – her hard exterior as a leader clearly not reflecting what’s hidden inside.
Other members of the team are briefly mentioned and focussed upon. We get an abridged history of the Steelers, the world’s first gay team that was formed by just six men charring over a few pints in a pub in London’s Kings Cross back in 1995. Fast forward 25 years later and we have 60 teams competing in a tournament taking place every couple of years – not just a sporting tournament, but an event that means so much more.
It’s a wonderful documentary; both heartwarming, involving, heartbreaking and uplifting. Clearly, a passionate, personal journey for its director, who also wrote the film, produced it and shot it. It is one of those that will stay with you for days afterwards.Thank goodness, in the nicest way, that Ashton-Atkinson was sidelined for that 2018 Bingham Cup, because otherwise, we would have been robbed of one of the most engaging, moving documentaries of the year.
Steelers
Summary
An uplifting, deeply personal documentary that involves from the off; one that everyone should see, no matter their gender, sexuality, or indeed whether they like rugby or not.
Steelers is playing as part of the 2021 Glasgow Film Festival.
