On May 23rd, film festival audiences from across North America will join together for a virtual screening of the documentary ‘Life in Synchro’.
Director: Angela Pinaglia
“Life in Synchro” – If someone said the words sport and synchronized, what’s the first thought that comes to mind? That’s right, synchronized swimming, a cross between ballet, group dance and water polo, and the aquawomen, who embrace it, make their graceful routines look effortless. So much so, that observers – sitting on their couches with remote controls in hand – may say, “I could do that.”
On the other hand, many others - who struggle to tread water for 30 seconds in the deep end, and include yours truly in this group - might respond, “Holy smokes. They must have practiced for years.”
That’s exactly true, and synchronized swimming – an Olympic sport since the 1984 Summer Games – has gone mainstream, although most folks probably only watch these extraordinary swimmers/artists once every four years.
Turning to director Angela Pinaglia’s documentary, she chronicles a sister sport, but one played on ice in “Life in Synchro”.
If you are unfamiliar with synchronized skating, you aren’t alone.
“You find out synchronized skating is this new crazy world,” Emily Fitzgerald, a roughly 20-year-old skater on the Dearborn Crystallettes.
She adds, “It’s not the female version of something else, and it’s 99.99 percent female.”
Although it’s not an Olympic event, after experiencing Pinaglia’s doc, one certainly recognizes the passion burning in suburban Detroit and throughout the country. According to Google, about 600 teams registered with U.S. Figure Skating, and the film takes thoughtful care by featuring coaches and several former and current skaters who offer detailed personal history lessons and explained the present-day state of affairs.
We meet Emily, her sister Cayty (and that’s not misspelled), numerous coaches, and former competitors in their 60s and above, like Peggy, Edie and Heidi. Heidi Coffin still skates competitively with the DownEasters out of Portland, Maine, and proudly proclaims that she wasn’t ready to hang up her blades after turning 65.
The doc splashes the coaches’ and skaters’ names in big pink letters on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, so the interviewees are easier to remember, but Pinaglia mainly follows Heidi’s and Emily’s journeys. All of the women (and one man) sport friendly faces and upbeat energy, but many acknowledge the lack of media sunlight on their lifelong endeavors. Although other than the absence of everyday recognition and a short montage of spills, we don’t get a real sense of the uphill struggles that the dedicated women overcame. So, when it comes time to witness the Crystallettes’ and DownEasters’ crescendos on the ice, this new spectator indeed rooted for them but wanted to feel more invested. The aforementioned sacrifices didn’t appear evident, but then again, the sporting world has never slighted this movie critic because of his gender. Surely, female viewers who have walked/skated in the on-screen athletes’ shoes/skates would feel a deeper connection. Still, that bond seems limiting, because the film is remarkably short with a runtime of just 53 minutes.
Also, with so many thoughtful interviews, Pinaglia leaves less time for actual skating. At one point, however, a camera is included with a skater on the ice in a dazzling, eye-opening sequence, so we get a feel for the overwhelming speed and precision.
Oh, let’s see more of that!
That was cool, but the film only grants that one first-person chance.
On the other hand, “Life in Synchro” delivers a complete picture of synchronized skating with coaches strategizing on-concrete and skaters practicing and performing on-ice. We soon know Emily, Heidi and others, and their collective love of the sport shines so brightly that the various rinks’ high-powered air-conditioning units need to work overtime to keep the ice intact. Looking back, Cayty and Emily’s mom Suzie may have said it best.
“Synchronized skating is like a flock of birds. You know, how they all move in one direction in flight.”
After watching “Life in Synchro”, there’s no question the skaters carry can-do attitudes, showy presentations (colorful costumes filled with sequins and faces splashed with big smiles), impressive athleticism, and close teamwork. So, the next time you hear the words sport and synchronized, TWO thoughts will immediately come to mind.
(2/4 stars)
Jeff – a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle – has penned film reviews since 2008, graduated from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and is a certified Rotten Tomatoes critic. Follow Jeff and the Phoenix Film Festival on Twitter @MitchFilmCritic and @PhoenixFilmFest, respectively.
