Freddie Stevenson was on his way to becoming a great football player in the National Football League–on his way toward etching his name in the history books among the greats. Then tragedy hit. Trials to Triumph is the story of Freddie as he finds himself struggling to get back to one-hundred percent, trying to find his way back to success. Supplemented by interviews by other stars who faced struggle, Trials to Triumph is a testament to the tenacity of man, and a dive into how faith can play a significant role in our lives.
While Trials to Triumph talks about facing injury setbacks, mental health, and relationships–faith seems to be the focus of the documentary. Never does a significant amount of time pass without the subjects of the film discussing their faith and the role that God has played in making them better people, in helping them get back to the top. I don’t believe that this group is attempting to force religion on their viewers, but the reality is that religion plays a significant role in the film; do with that what you will. I don’t believe that Trials to Triumph will ostracize any viewers–but I do feel that there is the potential for some disconnect.
Regardless of the religious connection, Trials to Triumph possesses a story of passion, one that will likely resonate with all that give it a chance. If you sit back and watch this film and don’t find some connection to it, if you can’t understand the idea of struggling and trying to find your way back–count your lucky stars (because you’ve lived a damn good life). The reality is, however, that most viewers will be able to understand the sentiment present in the film regardless of their personal experiences.
As powerful as the messages present in the film are, Trials to Triumph is a jumbled mess, with interviewees from so many different walks of life that they conflict with one another, that they begin to step on one another’s toes. One minute Freddie speaks about his experiences on and off the field, and immediately after, without any real transition, Maurice Benard (actor from General Hospital) makes an appearance and begins talking about his bipolar disorder. It’s not that these stories can’t exist together in the same documentary–but they are attempted to be pieced together in a way where they just don’t fit, where they truly make the other difficult to understand and appreciate.
There’s internal struggle in Trials to Triumph, and that exists in the fact that, while I believe that viewers will be able to appreciate the film as a whole and the messages that exist within, the stories conflict with one another. As the documentary plays out in a less-than-cohesive fashion, the film really becomes a mess, and it becomes difficult to follow from time to time. Trials to Triumph, if viewers can look past its discrepancies, will reach its audience, will appeal to viewers around the world. It’s powerful in many ways–viewers just need to find solace in the good and ignore the bad.
Directed by Greg Romano.
Written by Dan Ratner.
Starring Freddie Stevenson, Maurice Benard, Delvin Breaux, Tony Gaskins, Ryan Green, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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