STYLEBENDER

New Zealand, 2023, 102 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Zoe McIntosh.

Who is Israel Adesanya? Well, he is the subject of this film. But, who is he? And why is there a film about him?

Ardent fans of mixed martial arts and kickboxing would be able to tell you about this champion at a young age and continuing as a recordholder. And, these fans (and various sequences here show large auditoriums and arenas with thousands of fans) will be the first to line up to support Stylebender, Israel’s chosen professional title.

Which may mean that those who are not fans of mixed martial arts and kickboxing, and they are many as well, will not be lining up to see this portrait of Stylebender.

But, it may well be worth their while. There are MMA scenes, various bouts, championships, but the ardent fans made disappointed that there are not more. Which means that there is much more going on in the story – an opportunity to reflect on not just sports themes and competitiveness but rather what drives a potential champion, hopes and ambitions, support of family and trainers, self-image, self-questioning…

Israel Adesanya was born in Nigeria, one of five children, teaching father, nursing mother, moving to Ghana but deciding to migrate to New Zealand for the sake of the children’s education, settling in Rotorua, Israel educated there, not so much interested in sports, beginning tertiary studies, fascinated by Japanese anime, but moving into boxing and away from studies, into the world of MMA.

The director of this film, Zoe McIntosh began her three years following Stylebender knowing nothing about MMA, but watching, greater understanding of intricacies, interested in Israel’s character, his revelation of self-questioning, a more gentle part of his personality, but his competitiveness, his comments about his family but their support of him, often present at bouts, and his strong relationship with his long-time coach, Eugene Bareman. Dance is important, rhythm and movement. Exercise and fitness.

In fact, Israel is an eager interviewee, and an often fascinating talking head, a man who has explored his masculinity in the context of martial arts sports and their image, who has grown in self-confidence (and looking at him, listening to him, echoes of the bravado of Mohammed Ali). And, quite a number of interviews with the congenial Eugene Bareman to complement Israel’s opinions.

So, while this can be described as a sports film, it is rather a documentary portrait of a complex character, African background, New Zealand education, experience of bullying, and life choice for career, pride as well as questioning, achievement and its consequences, competitiveness and rivalry, his mark made in his chosen sport – but, his age at the time of the release of the film, 33, life still before him.

(For those who would like more information, the Google entry is extensive.)