Agon: The Intersection of Cinema and Sports

In a refreshing blend of film and sport, Giulio Bertelli’s debut directorial venture, Agon, hits the mark. Presented at the Venice International Cinema Week (SIC) and now streaming on Mubi, Agon explores the lives of three exceptional female athletes: Yile Vianello, Sofjia Zobina, and Olympic gold medalist Alice Bellandi.

“Judo is my job, and I represented it in Agon. Only through suffering can the results come. For me, it is the engine, pushing you to know yourself. I would never have come to a gold without the defeats and the pain, looking at me in the mirror.”

Sacrifice and Commitment: The Heart of Agon

At the core of Agon lies the theme of sacrifice and commitment, with a short circuit of sorts, given today’s fast-paced world where instant gratification is the norm. Bertelli explains, “It is difficult to complete things, exploring our business adequately. In the film, we confront the idea of not being able to do what we want, declining everything towards sport.”

• Yile Vianello believes in immediate results: “We all have waited enough. We don’t want to do things anymore where you have to take time.”
• Sofjia Zobina, however, finds joy in the journey: “There is nothing more fun than the sacrifice… In the end, it is not fun when they give you the prize, the path is fun.”

Defeat or Victory: The Unforgettable Value

Athletes and fans alike can relate to the question of victory and, perhaps more importantly, defeat. Alice Bellandi shares her perspective: “In sport, there is a tendency to see defeat as a failure. Instead, in the defeat, there are the opportunities to understand what it must be treated, put in place, and also to understand what you want in life.”