You only live when you're almost dying. The documentary follows stuntman David Holmes and his friendship with Daniel Radcliffe. Getting to know Harry Potter changed the lives of both.
The actor continues to support his understudy even after the tragic incident on the set of the Deathly Hallows, when Holmes suffered a severe spinal injury and was paralyzed. For Daniel, his on-screen understudy seemed like a cool big brother. He took on the most dangerous tricks throughout the franchise.
Ratcliffe is the executive producer of the documentary. The film contains archival footage taken over the past decade, materials from Holmes’ stunt work, scenes from his personal life, as well as interviews with him, Radcliffe, friends, family and former team (one of whom was Glen Powell).
I am delighted that Radcliffe is not only supporting his older brother, but is also the executive producer of the documentary. The tape contains archival footage from the shooting, filmed over the past decade, materials of the stunt work of Holmes, as well as scenes from his personal life, and interviews with him, Radcliffe, Holmes’ entourage. For David to go outside the house is already a big reward, like escaping from a prison of four walls. Even his house looks like one of the houses in the franchise, but I can’t remember which of the characters it belongs to. So, it's nice to have Radcliffe at a friend's house from the start.
Radcliffe entrusted the film to Dan Hartley created such films as Yorkshire Stories and the short film Other. But I think he made the right choice to take on this priceless story of a man with a capital letter. Where Radcliffe could not perform the trick, David managed to find a way to approach each scene. I won’t say that every part before the tragic events of the Deathly Gifts was an easy test for Holmes. The moment of the fall from the roof and the collapse of the tiles in the Goblet of Fire (based on the materials of the shooting in 2005) are also life-threatening. It was at the junction of Harry's latest adventures that this happened. David's injury on the set was not hidden. Everyone knows that. Therefore, after the ill-fated explosion - in the first part of the Darov - fate decided otherwise with David. It's not fair. It’s not fair that David has to pay a heavy price for his work 12 years later. This is not a single fee to cover and fix. Unless someone had a syringe with David's universal remedy? Every year, David manages to move his limbs, and the second hand will soon stop moving.
Indeed, Harry Potter is a big deal for many people who have left a bit of love from the franchise to themselves. But what does it mean for David, who realizes that his position is not the most enviable.
I like how he talks about his life in the house, about friends, about relatives, about the ups and downs. From the words of his parents Sue and Andy Hodms, we learn what an energetic childhood he and his brothers had. David's laid-back character had to be put into the case. Therefore, doing gymnastics for him is a way to throw out all the energy. Sooner or later he became a stuntman.
Also learned about the mystery long ago tormented me, how Neville Longbottom fell into the Philosopher's Stone after the spell of Hermione without damaging anything? To this question gave an accessible and excellent answer to David's assistant and student, Tolga Kenan.
Impressions: a touching, life story about David, which will not leave anyone indifferent.