Some of the best documentaries ever made have focused on sport and the people behind it, potentially due to the undeniable tension that sport creates and the mental and physical challenges it takes to reach the top.
In ‘The Edge’ the focus is on the the rise of Andrew Strauss’ England side from disrepair to number one in the world. This topic fascinates me even more as a huge cricket fan who watched this rise to the top throughout my teenage years.
The documentary covers the specifics of cricket that helped us get to the top, but it’s main focus, as with most documentaries, is on the people involved and specifically the mental health challenges they went through.
We are given as fascinating look at the way the demands and pressure of elite sport can quickly erode the confidence and mental stability of even the ‘strongest’ of individuals, and explores how much suffering people are willing to go through until they say enough is enough.
We are also given a great insight into the spectacular Kevin Pietersen controversy and the different reasons why it played out like it did, and what all involved would have done differently.
Some people who aren’t cricket fans may immediately recoil from this, but they shouldn’t as it is much more of an exploration of mental health and the true cost of elite sport.
Rating = 4/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 