‘Blind Ambition’ debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in the Documentary Competition. Our Tribeca 2021: ‘Blind Ambition’ film review is below.
‘Blind Ambition’ follows four Zimbabwean men, Joseph Dhafana, Marlvin Geese, Tinashe Nyamudoka, and Pardon Taguzu, as they separately leave their native country in pursuit of greener pastures in South Africa. Their journeys lead them to the South African restaurant industry, where their newly discovered interest in wine bring them together to form the first Zimbabwean team of elite, competitive sommeliers.
The documentary, directed by Rob Coe and Warwick Ross, illustrates the courage and confidence it takes to have a non-linear journey to The World Wide Blind Tasting Championships—the most important competition in the wine tasting world. The sommeliers did not know each other before arriving in South Africa. They formed Team Zimbabwe, a fantastic feat for having never tasted wine in their home countries.
“Whenever we pitched this story, Warwick and I sort of pitched it as the ‘Cool Runnings’ of the wine world.”
– Director Rob Coe, Tribeca Q&A
Through their stories we are introduced to their supportive families and their motivations. As the viewer you develop a sense of pride for not only the team, but their ability to break barriers and change perceptions, while simultaneously being fueled by their humble beginnings as respected sommeliers in the competitive wine industry.
Wine is a backdrop to ‘Blind Ambition’. The story is much more about perseverance, and empowering one’s self to accomplish anything you put your mind to.
It’s a particularly gripping film as we gradually roll out of the pandemic, as its principle message is about hard work, faith, and dedication. You’ll feel a sense of renewed purpose. And as a documentary, it keeps itself honest and doesn’t attempt to wrap everything up in a neat bow. Team Zimbabwe is easy to root for, but their journey won’t be easy.
This is by far one of the more outstanding documentaries Tribeca 2021 has to offer, with Ross and Coe doing a fine job of capturing highs, lows, and important life lessons.
English, Shona (with subtitles)
DIRECTORS: Robert Coe, Warwick Ross
SCREENWRITER: Warwick Ross, Robert Coe, Paul Murphy, Madeleine Ross
PRODUCER: Warwick Ross, Robert Coe
CINEMATOGRAPHER Scott Munro, Martin McGrath
EDITOR: Paul Murphy
‘Blind Ambition’ Synopsis
Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin and Pardon are part of a wave of Zimbabweans who left their economically-hit homeland for a better life elsewhere. After their perilous journeys they arrive in South Africa, eventually get jobs in restaurants, gain interest in the intricacies of wine, become sommeliers, meet and bond with one another, and are encouraged to form the first-ever Zimbabwe team to compete in The World Wine Blind Tasting Championships—the Olympics of the wine world. Blind Ambition follows their ambitious path to their unlikely spot in this annual competition held in France and primarily made up of western European teams, where they must sample twelve different wines and guess the country, winery and vintage—a challenge for any oenologist. Their sampling skills take them a long way, but it is their connection to their country, underscored by the comments and encouragement of parents, grandparents and children they left back home that provide the motivation and backbone. An Olympian story that Bacchus would approve, Blind Ambition is an inspiring, robust look at four committed men facing tough competition with an undaunting vision and mission that goes beyond winning medals.
—Brian Gordon
Please also see The Black List: Black Films Featured At The 2021 Tribeca Film Festival for any films you want to see featuring black leads!
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