Federer: Twelve Final Days

A documentary about the twelve days after Roger Federer announced his retirement: from the announcement to his last match, at the Laver Cup in London. At the end he plays doubles with Nadal, and after the match the two sit side by side and cry. The subject is not a career summary but the moment of stopping. There is almost no statistics or counting of titles; what there is instead is accepting that a body no longer carries you. The form is private and scattered: most of the footage was shot as family archive, with no intention of release. Federer's team was recording those days for themselves, and the material became a film afterwards, which explains why the images are so close. Asif Kapadia directs, previously known for building portraits out of archive in Senna and Amy. Here the material is not archive but a fresh and intimate record. Nadal, Djokovic and Murray are among those who speak. Who it is for: tennis viewers and anyone who likes stories about the end of a sporting career. Who it is not for: viewers wanting a critical portrait; the film looks entirely from Federer's side and asks no hard question.