The first thing that strikes us about Perfect is the visual quality of the work. It compiles shots with a rare precision and an often impressive, at times even poetic, composition. Next, we find ourselves following the filmmaker’s dynamic and effective narrative choreography with great interest, built around the team’s journey to the Olympics. While this narrative succeeds in building suspense that the simplest Google search can easily undo, it’s the reflections from the athletes and their coach that fascinate and move us, notably due to their frankness. This documentary shines a light on both collective and individual perseverance following a failure that seems unjustified. It also shows the complexity and beauty of questioning ourselves, embracing our differences and trying to express our humanity in everything we do.

As the Tokyo Games approach, and with thousands of Quebeckers cheering on millionaire athletes on skates in recent weeks, this look at the difficult and noble aspects of amateur athletics seems particularly apt.

Hubert Sabino-Brunette
Teacher and programmer