Using almost entirely interviews with talking heads, Trials to Triumph is meant to tell the dramatic story of a former NFL player, Freddie Stevenson (whose promising football career went “poof” before it got started) the story spends much more time with than with the supposed main subject.
The folks, friends and family of Freddie, tell well-constructed stories and elate the personal stories of their lives with great skill. It’s not their fault. The problem is there is no supporting video – almost no dramatic of Stevenson in action. It’s probably a copyright issue that could not be resolved by the obviously low budget doc.
What we start to notice is that crucifixes hang on the walls, just out of focus and in the background – we get the feeling that this film’s “triumph” is going to consists of conversions or affirmations of the power of Christianity.
And that’s fine. There is definitely an audience for evangelistic messaging in films.
But being honest, that’s what you should be prepared to see – not an exciting spots-doc with great archival clips and back-story b-roll. Just interviews with folks, going from bite to bite to bite to bite.
If the re- enforcing message of Christianity is you thing, I think you’ll like the film for what it is. But it is not constructed to be exciting or entertaining. And it isn’t.
I think this would play well at church summer camps this season or in Sunday schools. With the right audience, the film is going to be received in a whole different light.
Trials to Triumph is currently available to stream on the usual major platforms.