Throughout the month of July, Foxtel will showcase five powerful HBO documentaries exploring the extraordinary, inspiring and sometimes controversial world of sport and those who inhabit it next month.
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth – Wednesday, July 1
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee bring Tyson’s hit one-man stage show to the screen in this documentary special. Raw, honest, powerful and full of humour, “Iron Mike” opens up about his troubled youth, landmark boxing career, key people in his life, time in prison, self-examination, family and new beginnings.
Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes – Wednesday, July 8
See boxing superstar Muhammad Ali through a news lens, as the documentary film uses Ali’s many appearances on the Emmy-winning The Dick Cavett Show from 1968 – 1979 to give insight in to his legacy, in and out of the ring. Ali used his appearances as opportunities to have candid conversations with the host about racial, religious and political injustice. The film explores how Ali came to symbolise something greater than boxing.
The Scheme – Wednesday, July 15
On September 26, 2017, an extensive two-year undercover FBI investigation into a basketball corruption scandal led to the arrest of executives at Adidas and assistant coaches at major college programs. At the centre of it was Christian Dawkins, an unassuming and unknown 25-year-old who was allegedly part of a criminal enterprise that infiltrated college basketball teams and funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars to steer recruits to prominent athletic programs. For the first time ever, Dawkins speaks.
Women of Troy – Wednesday, July 22
The documentary explores the transcendent career of the Cheryl Miller-led USC Trojans and their impact on women’s basketball. Their ability to overcome adversity on and off the court propelled them in to national prominence, winning two national titles and becoming the first women’s collegiate team to visit the White House during the Ronald Reagan presidency. The film features interviews with all-time USC greats and illustrates how a pivotal moment in sports history impacted their lives and future generations.
State of Play: Inherent Violence – Wednesday, July 29
Is it possible that violence is an inherent part of sports? This documentary explores combat sports through two unique father-son relationships: an American professional MMA fighter combat training his young son, and in Florence, Italy, a retired player of Calcio Storico who has trained his son to compete in this violent form of soccer.
