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This is by no means a story just for teens, although it has
a real message for them, it is also a wake-up for adults and
parents to allow their children to follow their dreams.
But, while there is so much positive to come out of Lionheart,
there are also the bum notes where Australia's dreaded Tall
Poppy Syndrome and pettiness shines through like a pathetic
spoilsport.
Detailed in the hour-plus doco are the negative reactions
and bitchiness towards Jesse's mother for allowing him to
undertake the dangerous journey - forcing her to quit her
job - and older yachtsmen sitting in their chairs saying he
was lucky because the weather was kind to him. Looking at
some of the footage and the storms he went through makes you
think "shut your damn faces".
Lionheart follows Jesse's idea to become the youngest
person to circumnavigate the globe in a yacht, getting sponsors,
organising the vessel, outfitting it and then following him
with deck-cam and cabin-cam through the highs and lows of
a year-long journey.
This is a warts-and-all doco that has you feeling glad for
the young adventurer as he sits on deck enjoying warmth and
tranquility of nice weather, to laughing with him as he complains
about hair loss and pimples, to sharing the terror with him
as his small yacht is knocked around by a gut-churning storm
in the South Atlantic.
Lionheart is gripping stuff, filled with great film
footage of the actual voyage and interlaced with face-to-camera
interviews with his mother, key sponsor, support crews, other
yachtsmen and experts.
Above all, it is a tribute to courage - both Jesse's and
his family's - and is an uplifting tale of beating doubt and
the odds.
Terrific stuff!
Conclusion: Movie 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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