Review: Nina is an Athlete

Official synopsis: Israeli badminton champion Nina Gorodetsky has her first and maybe last chance to compete in the Paralympics. On the cusp of turning 40, this documentary is an intimate look into her life. 

Nina Gorodetsky was born in Georgia, immigrated to Israel when she was 11. Bullied and called a "Russian whore" by other kids, she fought them off and kept going. At the age of 17, she was paralyzed in a car accident. We start following Nina, now almost 40 in 2019 right before the pandemic cancelled the Paralympics and put everyone's lives on hold. Nina in particular struggles with her athletic pursuits and motherhood. She has a son, Naveh, but wants another. But her dream is also being an Olympic champion. When the pandemic comes, she has that second child she desired, and continues to work hard to qualify for the Paralympics. 

This is a very intimate look at Nina's life. We see her at her most vulnerable, her most fired up after a match, lovely moments with her husband and sons, and more frustrating ones with her ailing father. At one point, her mother reads off some of the countries where she earned her medals and you know just by that that Nina has lead a pretty incredible life. Which is why it's so hard for her to reconcile with the fact that she's near retirement age her sport. 

I imagine all pro-athletes feel the weight of that. All that training, money, and time. They don't get into the money issue but I was struck by the fact that Nina needs a separate wheelchair to play like a walking person would need different shoes. That's not cheap. 

I'm impressed with director Ravit Markus, everything feels raw, nothing manufactured. There's no big triumphant moment at the end where Nina wins it all, just her happy with her family. 

Nina is an Athlete premiered at the SLAMDANCE festival in January 2024. Its release date is still pending.

Grade: B