None of the four members of the first Zimbabwean national wine tasting team—the subjects of Robert Coe and Warwick Ross’ Tribeca-premiering documentary, Blind Ambition—ever expected to develop a passion for wine. But then, none of them expected to become refugees in Cape Town, South Africa, either. Life has misfortunes and pleasant coincidences for you all along the way, but the best of us adapt, roll with the punches, and then reconfigure our new and unexpected circumstances into daring journeys, fulfilling both who we want to be and honouring our roots (or, “kumusha” in the Zimbabwean language).

In Joseph, Tinahse, Pardon, and Marlvin, the filmmakers of Blind Ambition have found four glowing and nuanced examples of this ardent fluidity. The film charts their journey training for and eventually competing in the annual World Wine Tasting Competition held in Burgundy, France, illuminating their personal hurdles, the hurdles and politics involved in entering a prestigious, Olympics-style event, and the opportunities the world of wine affords them. All four work as successful sommeliers when Blind Ambition first catches up with them, but their pasts are marred by political and economic distresses of their homeland. This turmoil forced them to flee and suddenly re-contextualize themselves in a new part of the world, and while it is evident this re-contextualization revitalizes them to a certain degree, Coe and Ross’ thoughtful filmmaking assures us that a foot in the past tends to drag – and that’s okay. The subjects describe with great zealousness their pride in their families and their upbringings, the documentary clearly facilitating for them chances to connect that they might not have gotten without assistance.

And then there is the wine – the wine! It is a slight letdown knowing that competitors in a wine tasting competition get themselves to a point of binary thinking and intense focus where wine tasting no longer becomes pleasurable, but sport at all levels requires sacrifice. Joseph, Tinashe, Pardon, and Marlvin have all experienced sacrifice, and while they are new to wine tasting within the hallowed halls of wine’s coliseum, it is invigorating watching them move confidently into the midst of a new world and compete with both integrity and grace. But wine tasting is extremely difficult; getting even close to 100% of your wines identified is basically unheard of. When the Zimbabwean team lands in France, things start to move very quickly. Coe and Ross amp up the intensity of Blind Ambition in this section of the film, and drop us right into the pot alongside our frenzied sommeliers. Their coach Denis Garrett’s appearance aggravates the situation, and adds a wonderfully unexpected element of chaos to the story.

Overall, though, Blind Ambition is a feel-good and affirming documentary that speaks volumes to the conviction we invent as we reconcile traditions ingrained with those discovered, Old World with New World. The structure and editing can be by-the-numbers when it comes to a sports documentary, but this won’t put you off your experience to any great degree. Any documentary about food and beverages should, I think, offer a degree of uplifting effervescence and comfort, and Blind Ambition offers this in spades, especially when we see the Zimbabwean team in their moments of revelry and pride. “Inspiring” is also a buzzword in this instance, and whether Blind Ambition inspires you to strive for your next victory or just look at your next glass of wine a little differently, what we can learn from team Zimbabwe is that inspiration can always be a force for good – go with it.

CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Warwick Ross and Rob Coe

Warwick Ross and Rob Coe are both Australian producers, directors, and writers. Ross is best known for the award-winning feature documentary Red Obsession and the comedy Young Einstein. Coe was an executive producer for Red Obsession and a producer for Beast.

CINEMATOGRAPHER

Scott Munro, Martin McGrath

EDITOR

Paul Murphy

DIRECTOR

Robert Coe, Warwick Ross

PRODUCER

Warwick Ross, Robert Coe

SCREENWRITER

Warwick Ross, Robert Coe, Paul Murphy, Madeleine Ross