Considering Free Skate is from Finland, the story is easily accessible to American audiences. U.S. Women’s Olympic teams have already been exposed to not only its harsh training regimen for young girls and teens to reach competitive weight and appearance but they’ve also to the sexual predators in the trainers and physicians taking advantage of young girls, who are afraid to say no. Writer/star Veera W. Vilo tells a story that’s representative of the sport in Europe based on her own experiences as a gymnast and her discussions with other competitors. The experiences are almost the same, but the setting is different.
The film essentially compares two training styles: the strict rules and precise outcomes of the Russian system versus Finland’s free-flowing joy and artistic presentations. I’m sure the facts represented are true, but it’s hard not to notice that distinct line between good and evil being drawn. Unlike the American story, evil comes in the form of the Russian Mafia, which puts a thriller spin onto the end.
Free Skate – Film still
“…[Vilo is] absolutely incredible on the ice and looks like a star.”
The two-hour runtime makes the pace feel slow initially, but Veera W. Vilo gives a fantastic performance in many ways. First, she’s absolutely incredible on the ice and looks like a star. I’ve seen skating movies, and they don’t always look like they could actually compete at a professional level, but here, Vilo shines. But you can also tell that she is more concerned about the story and the issues presented in it than the actual ice skating. Vilo’s acting is subtle and nuanced, skating that line between authenticity and melodrama, though never crossing it.
Free Skate will not necessarily inspire your young girl into competitive sports. It serves more as an exposé on the industry that can take advantage of young girls and steal away that time in childhood that should be spent being a child. Roope Olenius and Veera W. Vilo present a blunt and wide-eyed story of a sport that should be about healthy competition and the joy of creating art.
"…an exposé on the industry that can take advantage of young girls..."
