Movie Review: ‘I, Tonya’ (2018) - The Cycle of Generational Trauma

+68Picture credit - Instagram

“There’s no such thing as truth … Everyone has their own truth.”

-Tonya Harding

In light of the vocation of American skating competition and also being an Olympian skater Tonya Harding, ‘I, Tonya’ is a 2017 award-winning movie based on a games show featuring Margot Robbie.

Harding is most popular for being the main American lady to finish a triple axel in rivalry, however that didn't mean she was well known with the adjudicators. The film is crude. 

What's more, brilliant. Exhibiting the trauma, battle, and tragic occurrences in the life of Tonya.

 

Introduction

Movie Name - I, Tonya 

Cast - Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson

Director - Craig Gillespie

Run time - 120 minutes

Language - English

Genre - Sports, Dark Comedy, Indie Film

Plot (Spoiler Alert !) 

‘I, Tonya’ begins with a little girl joining figure skating against all odds. Tonya was a daddy’s girl. Her parents had a toxic marriage which resulted in her father leaving behind Tonya and her mother. This led to building up abandonment issues in her. 

Tonya spent her childhood and the majority of her teenage years with her abusive mother. The worst part about growing up with an abusive mother was conditioning herself to believe that her mother hit her out of love. Her mother La Vona might have loved her, but she certainly failed as a parent. She had her own childhood traumas, it is just not fair to take off your frustration on your kids. 

Picture Credits- DigitalSpy

 

The next phase of Tonya’s life starts like a romantic comedy that turns into a horrific nightmare. Tonya had yet again jumped into an abusive relationship. From dealing with an abusive mother to attracting an abusive boyfriend, she did it all. If you think about it all Tonya ever wanted was love. She was accustomed to believing that someone who loves her will hit her. 

The highest point of Tonya’s life and career was in the 1991 Nationals when she became the first American woman to land a triple axel. Tonya was resilient, she went against all odds that life put forth her and she crushed it. She gained momentum post this incident of achievement. 

 

Picture Credits- New York Times

Psychological Analysis

If there is one thing that this movie depicts beautifully is how we need to separate our relationships from our careers. Codependency on partners or any other relationship only gives way to toxicity. Tanya could not perform the triple axel in the 1992 Olympics due to the reasons that were deeply rooted in her flawed relationships. 

The incident revolving around Nancy Kerrigan has different perspectives. The movie provides all possible angles on how Nancy Kerrigan could have been attacked. Tonya’s ex-husband Jeff was later charged for Nancy Kerrigan’s assault. Tonya Harding was also named in the conspiracy by her ex-husband. This put an end to Tonya’s career as a figure skater. 

The rawness of this movie speaks volumes. This is not just a biopic, it embodies the incidents and entire life of Tonya Harding. She was a fighter. Everything that Tonya did and the decisions she made were a result of her traumas. In their heart, she was always that little girl who just wanted love. 

Critical Reception Of Performances 

The beauty and appeal that colors Robbie's screen presence make her appear, from the outset redden, more fit to play Kerrigan. Yet, only a couple minutes into me, Tonya, I wound up dazzled by the displeasure and obtuse rawness that characterize Robbie's exhibition, which is selected for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Sunday night.

Director Craig Gillespie and writer Steven Rogers depend on an outlining gadget of meetings with the more seasoned renditions of individuals at the core of this interestingly American, frequently absurd misfortune, alongside meta flashbacks and incidental fantastical breaks.

Conclusion

‘I, Tonya’ 2018 movie directed by Craig Gillespie. This is a biopic on the life of Tonya Harding, an American figure skater. The protagonist is portrayed by Margot Robbie. Being the phenomenal actress that she is, her work in this movie is simply and easily one of the best.

Watching the drama on-screen feels raw and one can easily empathize with Tonya Harding. This movie just not revolves around the incident but also sheds light on the generational traumas controlling the characters by their guts. Thus it is what makes the movie a must-watch.

My ratings for the movie - 5 on 5

Written By - Manika Gupta