The new documentary Citizen Ashe by Rex Miller and Sam Pollard can answer the question “Who was Arthur Ashe?” if you prefer to see a movie rather than merely read about him on Wikipedia. The issue is that, given that Ashe is not exactly a mysterious figure, the question of who he was is already puzzling. He was one of the best tennis players of all time and the first Black guy to win Wimbledon.
By focusing on Ashe’s reluctance to take on social concerns, the documentary attempts to delve a little deeper. At these points, the film is at its strongest since it demonstrates how activism is both more nuanced and individualised than merely having a platform. However, Citizen Ashe is a demoralising sports documentary as a whole since it never goes deeper than skimming the surface of Ashe’s life.
Tennis player Arthur Ashe made strides in the sport. Due to his undeniable talent and tenacity, Ashe broke through at a period when whites ruled the sport. Then again, he was also someone who “played the game” of social customs (i.e., demands made by White supremacists), and in the 1960s, Ashe refrained from taking a position while other Black players did. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Ashe started to get more politically involved and started using his position and fame to promote causes outside of sports. The documentary follows his life as it attempts to strike a balance between his accomplishments on and off the tennis court.
Ashe’s activism is fascinatingly explored in Citizen Ashe since society now is so divisive that the idea of someone not immediately jumping into the conflict is perceived as cowardice. However, the documentary does a fantastic job of outlining Ashe’s personality and background. This man had been raised with the principles of not making a scene in his sport and didn’t want to embarrass his strict, controlling father.
Ashe had to be a role model for his race even if there were clubs in the South that would not allow him to play there under any circumstances, but later a player like John McEnroe could be respected and even loved for his rage and antics on the court.
Beyond examining this racial relationship, Citizen Ashe mostly refrains from addressing any other problematic characters or conflicts in Ashe’s life, leaving him to be basically unremarkable and typical aside from his exceptional tennis ability. The film’s examination of his approach versus rival Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon 1975 is fantastic for tennis lovers (and even casual spectators), yet even here, it seems reluctant to claim that Ashe significantly altered the game.
While it makes an effort to tie current prominent athletes’ demonstrations to Ashe, it never acknowledges how much more of a driving force Ashe was than his contemporaries Muhammed Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabar. It doesn’t mean Ashe wasn’t a part of that movement, and Citizen Ashe does an excellent job of explaining why he accepted it more slowly than others, but beyond that first hesitation, it doesn’t distinguish him significantly.
On the one hand, Citizen Ashe appealed to me because I didn’t know anything about him other than the fact that his last name frequently appears as a crossword puzzle clue. Although Wikipedia exists, watching the documentary is undoubtedly the more enjoyable way to learn about Ashe’s life. It doesn’t build outwards or inwards to look at the complexities of the moment or the complexities of the individual, which makes it feel a little superficial.
They are transformed into something that resembles a small amount of hero worship. When the risks are so low—after all, Ashe wasn’t a political figure but a tennis player—that kind of hagiography isn’t too objectionable. However, Citizen Ashe is basically a repetition of what viewers already know if they’re searching for a film that digs deeper.
Interviews with Ashe’s widow, Jeanne Moutousammy-Ashe, his brother, Johnnie Ashe, other tennis legends like Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Donald Dell, and Lenny Simpson, as well as fellow activist Professor Harry Edwards, are included in the film as it transitions from Ashe’s childhood to adulthood. Audiences will learn about the cultural significance of Arthur Ashe’s historic Grand Slam victories and how, despite the hatred he endured on a daily basis, the tennis legend was able to maintain a stoic demeanour in public.
On December 3 in New York City and December 10 in Los Angeles, Magnolia Pictures’ theatrical version of the documentary will make its debut. Ashe lived his life using his notoriety to improve not just himself but also the world in which he lived. I just think about what he did, and with such purpose and passion, one interviewee in the teaser says about Ashe. He never forgot about his race, which is the human race, according to a different interviewee.
Where to Watch Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022)?
Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) will be premiering on HBO Max on July 28, 2022. We do not recommend illegal streaming and always suggest paying for the content you like to watch.
Is Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) available on Amazon Prime?
Amazon prime will not be streaming Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022). Additionally, several other films are streaming on Prime. Our recommendations are The Voyagers, It’s a Wonderful Life, Notting Hill, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Is Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) available on HBO Max?
HBO Max will be streaming Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022). However, HBO’s subscribers can enjoy its other popular streams like Euphoria, When Harry Met Sally and Promising Young Woman.
Is Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) available on Hulu?
Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) is not available on Hulu. The new release line-up additionally includes Pam and Tommy, How I Met Your Father, Abbott Elementary, and Vikings.
Is Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) available on Netflix?
Citizen Ashe: Season 1 (2022) will not be available to stream on Netflix. However, other brilliant shows like The Power of The Dog, The Social Network, Tick, Tick, Boom, and much more are available.