I heard a friend remark about the game of curling about as exciting as watching paint dry. Unfair to those who curl and are passionate about the sport.
In “Curl Power” five British Columbian female teens are passionate about curling and compete as the “The 4K Girls”. Gently coached by Canadian Olympian curling moms their goal is to win the provincial under 18 junior women’s curling championship.
If you are bonspiel inclined you might derive some pleasure from the rink action as the rocks glide down the ice. But the action of the film may not be on the ice but a focus on these teens as they navigate the transition from child to adult. Sort of caught in the middle so as to speak.
These curlers are not super machines but adolescents with a strong and enduring friendship and curling is but an arena for their development as adults. There is depression, anxiety, hints of an eating disorder, cancer, tears, passion, doubt, make up tips, boy problems and the loss of team members to university. You might surmise they are tough and confident but my conclusion is that they are vulnerable as so many teens are. In effect what might have been a cheesy sports documentary becomes a study in the human condition.
You may ask yourself if inclusion and curling are miles apart. The young ladies are all middle-class Caucasians.
Interesting yes. Groundbreaking no.
Warning no Tim Hortons’ coffee can be seen in the film.
Josephine Anderson is the director.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 74/100.
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