Some responses to The Last Champion have taken the either/or approach. It has depended on interests and background. One response has been to the film as a sports film, high school students and their coach. The other response has been to the personal journey of the coach, failure, regrets, possibilities for redemption. The best response, of course, is a both/and, a personal redemption story through sports and coaching.

Wrestling fans of the past may be familiar with the winner of wrestling gold in the Olympic Games at Atlanta, 1996. His name was John Wright. He was a high school champion, highly awarded. After winning the gold medal, it was revealed that he had taken drugs and he was stripped of his metal. This information is quickly given in the opening minutes of the film, photos, newspaper headings, highlights.

However, the action of the film takes place 20 years later, John Wright returning to his home town, Garfield, Washington State, his mother having died and his need to organise the stale of his family home. He had been working on a ranch with cattle.

John Wright is played by Cole Hauser, perhaps better known for thrillers and action films. He is especially convincing in the early sequences, shunned by some of the townspeople because of his drug scandal, welcomed by others, especially his coach at high school who invites him to a meal, gets him some work at the local fire station. In the meantime, we are shown a high school student, Michael Miller (Sean H.Scully), shoplifting, helped by the coach, glimpses of his dysfunctional and sad mother (Hallie Todd, who co-wrote the screenplay with her husband, the director, Glenn Withrow, and their daughter Ivy, a family enterprise).

It is not difficult to see where the film is going – after all, it is based on an actual story. Which means that it may not appeal to an audience which is looking for more sophisticated twists. Rather, this is a story that all audiences can watch, identify with worry about, hope.

When the coach collapses and dies, it is obvious that John Wright will be approached to work with the high school team. There is some complication because Wright is in financial need and he approaches a banker, friend from the past, who does a deal with Wright to help him financially and that he coach his son to be the state champion. There is a brutal scene, which Wright observes but does not intervene in, where Michael is bashed by three of the wrestling team. And this will weigh on Wright’s conscience.

This a small town America, quite folksy in many ways, would have been called homespun in earlier decades. People still go to church. They do line-dancing. The large choir sings Christmas carols. The pastor (dressed in everyday clothes rather than formal) is genial, helps with people’s lives, his daughter Elizabeth (the obvious romantic interest) works in the surgery. And, people are kind and generous for the most part.

There is a church sequence, John Wright trying to come to terms with his past and his present, actually confessing to the pastor and experiencing forgiveness. And his work, thorough and professional with the boys, is part of his atonement.

On the sports level, lots of wrestling sequences, training, matches, the state competition, the buildup to the final bout between Michael and the son of the banker…

This film has been welcomed by many audiences who want good stories, stories about goodness which do not over looking failings, a film which is edifying and inspiring.

1. The title? John Wright as a champion? In the Olympics? His disgrace? His redemption and atonement?
2. Washington State, the town, the large home on the edge of town, the school, sports hall, diners, the atmosphere of the American small town? The musical score?
3. The opening credits, the immediate information about John Wright, his talent at school, all-American, wrestling competitions, winning, going to the Olympics, his victory? The drugs? Losing his medal? Disgrace?
4. 20 years passing, his working with the cattle, the scenes on the range?
5. John Wright and his return home, his mother’s house, the lavish interiors and possessions, her death, his plans to sell the house? His visit to Bob, relationship in the past, John and his financial difficulties, Bob and the refusal of the loan? The later meeting, Bob and his proposal about a loan, and John coaching his son to become state wrestling champion? The agreement?
6. John, the diner, people walking out? Other people welcoming him home? The importance of the friendship of Frank, his role as a coach, work in the fire department, offering John work?
7. Frank, Michael and the shoplifting episode, the anger of the proprietor, Frank and his going as guarantee, training Michael in wrestling? The scenes of Michael’s home, the absent father, his mother and her drinking, slatternly life, his sister and her talents, loss of opportunities, having to look after the little sister? The little girl, her devotion to her mother? The domestic scenes?
8. Frank, admired in the town, his collapse in the street, his death, the wake?
9. John, his age, the experiences, his attitude towards life, acknowledging his mistakes, regrets? The encounter with Elizabeth, with her father? Past attachments? Elizabeth, work in the school, medical? Her father, the pastor, ordinary clothes, welcoming people to the church?
10. John, the offer of coaching the wrestling? His acceptance? With the young men? The training, his past experience, tough demands? Michael’s presence?
11. The other boys, their angers, the bashing of Michael? John watching, not intervening? His guilt? In the church, the confession to the pastor and the repercussions? His acknowledging the truth? His support of Michael? His condemnation of the boys – and the boy in the diner, admitting the truth, opening up to John? The other boy? Scott, support of his father, being transferred to a rival school?
12. John, moods, taciturn, Elizabeth and her attempts to draw him out, the meal together, his being quiet? Helping with the packing?
13. Michael’s family, his mother being present at functions, but deciding to leave, abandoning the family? Michael having to go to work? The meeting in the church, the pastor presiding, the appeal, the various responses, Frank’s widow and her offered to support the family? (The atmosphere of the townspeople, together, the dances, the Christmas carols…?)
14. The training, the competitions, the collage of the various bouts? Michael and his emerging as a champion?
15. Audience response to wrestling, understanding the techniques, the points and scoring?
16. The buildup to the final? The people in the town being present and supportive?
17. The atmosphere of a sports film, coach and students’ film, the details of the final competitiveness, Bob and his intervention and having to be set down, the tension for the audience, Michael ultimately winning?
18. A true story, Olympic victories, disgrace, the consequences, the possibilities for redemption, and action in atonement?