Free Skate: An Axel-lent Drama
Some of the best films, the ones that resonate with us emotionally, can also at times be harder to watch. Sometimes they cover subject matter and issues that aren’t the easiest to discuss, such as trauma and abuse, but that can be important for certain stories to be told.
Free Skate is such a film, giving us a look into the journey of a young woman desperate to escape to a better life, while still coping with the aftermath of her past. Trigger Warning: This film does contain depictions of human trafficking and sexual coercion/assault.
A Powerful Tale of Perseverance
Free Skate follows the story of a young Russian figure skater (Veera W. Vilo, who also wrote the screenplay for the film) found unconscious on the side of the road in Finland. Taken in by her estranged grandmother (Leena Uotila), she joins a Finnish skating team and begins training under a much different style than what she’s used to. Despite demonstrating exemplary talent and ability, she pushes herself to her limits mentally and physically, much to the concern of her coach (Karoliina Blackburn) and choreographer (Miikka J. Anttila), who treats her with respect and encouragement rather than insults and punishment. As she progresses through the competition, she’s interviewed by a television reporter (Beata Harju), who asks her about her past and why she “jumped” countries, which gives her the opportunity to speak out about her harrowing past filled with loss, trauma, and abuse that caused her to flee.
As the plot unfolds, we also bounce back into her past in Russia: The tense, brutal training sessions endured while weak from hunger, being forced to stand out in the snow as punishment, and being berated for the smallest mistake. We also see her encounters with the men who own the club and the lengths they go to in order to ensure they’re “appreciated” (in big, disgusting quotes) for their efforts, as well as her father (Jevgeni Haukka), who’s willing to sacrifice everything for her success, even her own well-being. Such a back-and-forth pendulum of events provides the complete scope of the film in a way that doesn’t allow the viewer to linger too long on one event. It also provides the stark contrast of the two lives she’s lived: One of misery and suffering in Russia, the other with her newfound support system in Finland.
A Commendable Cast and Crew
A film like this is nothing without the powerful performances that drive it, and the cast has certainly risen to the challenge. Vilo is a force, effortlessly shifting from fearful to graceful, cautious to drive from one scene to the next. It’s clear her character has endured so much and been so resilient, and any viewer ought to be sympathetic to her journey. The rest of the cast is remarkable as well, each playing diverse supporting roles from the cruel to the comforting and everywhere in between to great effect. The cinematography in the ice skating scenes is gorgeous, with sweeping shots that showcase the beauty and grace of the sport, and the clever editing between some scenes really emphasizes the parallels between the two lives she’s lived. Vilo and Roope Olenius, the director, deserves recognition for the courage to bring such a story to life and tell it in an engaging way.
I always find films with unnamed characters interesting and often muse about the purpose or intention of the writer in doing so. With this film, the reasoning seems to be clear. In telling this story of a woman who has persevered through hell in search of a better life, something that is upsettingly too frequent in this world, by having a protagonist without a name, we might be able to impart our own identity onto her. Whether that be ourselves or someone we know who’s encountered a situation not dissimilar from hers, perhaps we can see a familiar face within Vilo’s performance and root for their success as well as her own.
Conclusion:
If you’re able to watch this film, please do. It’s an engaging character-driven drama that skates the edge of being a thriller as it progresses, and this young woman’s journey will keep your attention through to the end. It might even sit with you for a while after.
Free Skate is now available for rent or purchase through all major VOD channels.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault or human trafficking, help can be found through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or at https://www.rainn.org/, or through the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.
Watch Free Skate
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