When We Were Kings (1996) – Documentary Review
By Sarah Morgan
Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois. These are arguably the biggest names in boxing’s heavyweight division at the moment.
But will we still be talking about them and their exploits in 50 years? Possibly, but it’s hard to imagine that their names will ring (pun intended) out as large as those of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman do, half a century on from their infamous Rumble in the Jungle.
The build-up to and aftermath of that fight, which took place in October 1974, is the focus of director Leon Gast’s breathtaking When We Were Kings, which won the 1996 Best Documentary Feature Oscar, and deservedly so.
“Transfixing everyone”
Gast had spent time with the fighters during their preparations in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), the country chosen as the venue by promoter Don King because its dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, was willing to put up the millions of dollars demanded by the participants.
In return, Seko’s nation received worldwide publicity, boosted further by a soul music festival featuring James Brown, BB King and The Spinners; an injury to George Foreman delayed the fight, which meant that the festival, originally organised to accompany the proceedings, ended up happening a month before.
While Foreman is seen as a man of few words, Ali rarely stops talking, whether he’s criticising his opponent (then the most feared boxer in the world) or remarking on his admiration for African people. He’s an entertainer as much as a sportsman, transfixing everyone he meets.
Writers Norman Mailer and George Plimpton, who witnessed the bout, are among those discussing what happened during interviews recorded by Gast 20 years on. Film director Spike Lee and Ali biographer Thomas Hauser also offer their views, both on the impact the fight had and on Ali’s ‘rope a dope’ tactic that wore his opponent out; he was not the favourite to win, but defied the odds to regain the heavyweight title, ensuring his status as a legend in the process.
“Changed man”
Although we already know the outcome of the fight before watching, the documentary is hugely gripping. However, its one shortcoming is that it perhaps focuses on Ali a little too much. I would love to have known more about Foreman, who was reportedly a changed man after his loss, becoming the softer, kindlier figure he’s regarded as today. You certainly can’t imagine the Foreman of 1974 espousing the benefits of owning a lean, mean, fat-reducing grilling machine.
The only special feature on the disc is at least a fascinating one. It’s an in-depth interview with Gast, who details his experiences in Zaire, as well as the difficulties he faced in securing the documentary’s release. After rewatching it, it seems incredible that distributors passed on it for years.
Perhaps Fury et al should watch it. They may learn a thing or two about securing a legacy in the process.
‘When We Were kings’ is released on Blu-ray by 101 Films
