Not a huge fan of Tennis, but when Federer: Twelve Final Days was released I had to see why the sport would mean so much to its fans. Nicely produced and directed, the documentary delves into the life of the greatest tennis player of all time.
Thinking it may be just another documentary, I watched with doubt expecting a boring rehash of his life and not much more. But I was fooled, this story is touching, compelling and beyond anticipations. The story begins with his early start as a ball boy for tennis matches to the incredible wins in this demanding enduring sport to become the man to beat on the courts. The Federer story takes you on the incredible journey of this unassuming man who won an amassing number of titles that were held by the best and then topping their feats.
What makes it even better is the final 20 minutes as he plays his last match at the 2022 Laver Cup alongside his all-time rival Rafael Nadal in a doubles match. It is a fitting way to show the strength and determination of this wonder man and his show of love of the sport.
The film is loaded with great shots under the able direction of Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia. The two hold nothing back about Federer’s personal life and duels on the court. Included in the film are his wife Mirka and tennis greats. The film is now available to watch on Amazon Prime and you don’t have to be a tennis fan to enjoy this story about the GOAT of tennis.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Roger Federer, Mirka Federer, Leo Federer and many famous tennis players
Directed and written by: Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Sports
MPAA Rating: R for some language
Running Time: 1 hr. 28 min.
Opening Date: Now Streaming
Released in: Amazon Prime
