A Fighting

Chance A STUDY GUIDE by katy marriner

www.metromagazine.com.au

www.theeducationshop.com.au Right: Nermin in the ring with the Australian Cruiserweight champion 24-year-old Daniel Ammann. Cover: Nermin wearing his favourite red gloves.

This studyIntroduction guide to accompany A Fighting Chance (Mark Andersson, 2007), a documentary presented by JOTZ Productions in association with Budaya Productions, has been written for secondary students. It provides information and suggestions for learning activities in English, Health, Physical Education, Religious Education and Media.

Synopsis Now that he has won an Australian ti- his work as a project officer with the tle and an Oriental Pacific Belt, Nermin Aboriginal Sobriety Group. Boxing’s in the blood yeah, that’s it. believes that he can beat the odds to – Nermin Sabanovic go on to represent Australia and claim Since his return to the ring and recent a world title. Nermin reckons he has victories, Nermin has become an icon t age forty-two, former Bos- what it takes. of the fiercely patriotic Bosnian com- nian boxing champion Nermin munity in Australia. Nermin’s brother- ASabanovic is making a come- His family is not so sure. After all, in-law, Helari Lukavic, is constantly by back. Back in Bosnia, Nermin was a Nermin has been out of the ring for ten his side, spurring him on.

dual Olympian and nine times national years and his ageing body may not be SCREEN EDUCA champion. He won more than 350 up to it. Nermin’s wife Indira refuses Nermin is already a hero, a survivor, a fights. Then the Bosnian war broke out to watch his fights, and his eldest pillar of strength and a well-respected and suddenly his celebrated career daughter Tea believes her father’s age leader in the Bosnian community T ION was cut short. Nermin and his family makes boxing far too risky. Both of in Adelaide. What does he have to fled to Australia. them constantly worry about injury or prove? worse. They want Nermin to focus on 2 About the filmmakers Mark Andersson – Writer and Director

fter stints as a breakfast cook, taxi driver and landscape Agardener, Mark Andersson graduated from film school in 2000 half hour documentary with Andersson with over fifteen short film credits for an SBS series on Generation Y. to his name. Since then, Andersson has worked in community television, Tom Zubrycki – Producer theatre production, and as a freelance director, camera operator and editor. Tom Zubrycki has been a writer, direc- He has self-funded a number of edu- tor and producer of documentaries cational and short documentaries on since 1977. Zubrycki usually works various topics ranging from homeless- in an observational style and his films ness to UFO investigators, that have are narrative-based and strongly won awards and screened at festivals character-driven. His work has won in Australia and overseas. acclaim internationally and in Aus- tralia, with his film The Diplomat (2000) on a diverse range of documentaries, Andersson wrote, directed, shot winning two AFI awards. Zubrycki television series, short films and com- and edited the award-winning Stone regularly teaches courses in docu- mercials. Banbury recently edited the Country (2006) about an Aboriginal mentary production at the University documentary Ayen’s Cooking School township in the Northern Territory, of Technology in Sydney, and in 2001 for African Men (Sieh Mchawala, 2007) and in 2006 he formed the production was conferred an ASDA accreditation for SBS Storyline Australia, and is cur- company Budaya Productions with for ‘outstanding work and excellence rently working on a documentary with fellow filmmaker and partner Katrina in the art of screen direction’ by the another emerging South Australian Lucas. Together they have taught Australian Screen Directors Associa- filmmaker about Vietnamese Hmong documentary production workshops tion. He is currently a board member girls titled Please Buy From Me. in Indonesia, as well as filming a of ASDA and represents the interests documentary and educational DVD of Sydney-based documentary mak- Unkle Ho – Original Music on women performing artists in Bali. ers on the SPAA/ASDA Documentary and Composition Andersson is currently filming a half- Council. hour documentary as part of a series Unkle Ho (Kaho Cheung) is a compos- on Generation Y for SBS. Zubrycki’s recent credits include: er, producer, recorder and performer of Temple of Dreams (2007, director/pro- music. He is a founding member of the Katrina Lucas – Writer and ducer); Molly & Mobarak (2003, direc- record label Elefant Traks and is also Co-producer tor/producer); The Diplomat (director); a member of the hip-hop group The the 4-part series Short Stories (2003, Herd. He has toured Australia count- Katrina Lucas worked in academic executive producer); Broken (2003, less times and played festival shows research, community services and producer); Vietnam Symphony (2003, at The Big Day Out and Splendour in performing arts before trying her hand director) and Making Venus (2002, the Grass. In 2000, Unkle Ho lived in at filmmaking. She collaborated with producer). the Czech Republic where he became SCREEN EDUCA fellow filmmaker and partner Mark determined to get Gypsy/Romanian Andersson on a variety of educational David Banbury – Editor music the attention it deserves. He and short documentaries before form- subsequently released two solo T ION ing their own production company Since graduating from the Flinders albums which incorporate Eastern Budaya Productions in 2006. Lucas University Drama Centre in 1988, Dav- European sounds. is currently co-writing and directing a id Banbury has worked as an editor 3

Top: Nermin after his Oriental Pacific title defence in Tokyo, Japan. Bottom: Nermin with a client on the streets of Adelaide working for the Mobile Assistance Patrol. Using 'A Fighting Chance'

inTeachers the may select from classroom the following activities to support students’ viewing and close analysis of A Fighting Chance.

Before viewing the film • What are the qualities of a hero? Do you think this is the title that • As a class, discuss at what age it Nermin really wins? is appropriate to retire from playing • What moments of A Fighting a particular sport. What factors Chance did you find inspiring? should play a part in the decision? • Why do you think the filmmakers • Ask students to share their knowl- decided to name the documentary edge of sportsmen and sports- A Fighting Chance? women who have made come- • What are the central concerns of A backs after retirement. Fighting Chance? • Are you ever too old to follow a • Create an A3 collage of words dream? and images that offers a response

to an idea explored in A Fighting SCREEN EDUCA After viewing the film Chance. Use these responses to compose a class mural that reveals • Do you think Nermin should have the concerns of the documentary. T ION followed his dream? • Who do you think the documentary • Do you think Nermin is a good role is trying to communicate its mes- model? sages to? 4

TOP: Nermin Sabanovic at home with his Australian and Oriental Pacific title belts. BOTTOM: Nermin with his belt and trophy. right: Nermin carried by his trainer Terry Fox after winning the Australian Super Cruiserweight title in Brisbane. inset below: Nermin during a fight.

Key Scenes and his career as a boxer visit . production values of a key scene of A • Nermin is shown sorting through Fighting Chance. the medals he has collected during • What does A Fighting Chance tell his career. What does this scene the audience about Nermin’s deci- Nermin Sabanovic tell us about his desire to pursue sion to return to the ring? Do you his dream? Recall other moments think it is a wise decision? As a high-profile sports figure and a in A Fighting Chance that highlight • Make Nermin’s list of pros and Muslim, Nermin Sabanovic was forced Nermin’s passion for boxing. cons for resuming his career as a to flee the war in former Yugoslavia boxer. with his family. After arriving here in The comeback • To see Nermin fight for the 1993 as a refugee, Nermin decided Australian Cruiserweight belt to turn boxing into his profession. I feel good man, feel good. I can fight against James Ellis in 2006, His years of international boxing again, see? – Nermin visit: . position to win the Australian Super I’m fit too, you know, so. The other fel- Cruiserweight Boxing Title, but a seri- las they make mistake, you know, they Nermin’s fans ous road accident a week before the think I’m not fit I’m too old. But I’m fit,

fight forced him into retirement. I’m fitter than them. – Nermin One and only. We love you Nermin, we SCREEN EDUCA love you. You’re our champion, you’re • What does A Fighting Chance tell Nermin is extremely fit. He trains two a people’s champion. – Helari the audience about Nermin’s box- hours a day and doesn’t smoke or T ION ing career prior to his retirement drink. Years of intense training have Go Champion! Let’s do it! We are with and comeback? made him physically and mentally you! • To read an article about Nermin disciplined. – Nermin’s Bosnian-Australian friends 5 Nermin’s status as a celebrated hero daughter Medina. This is my oldest The Fights within the Bosnian community is daughter Tea. Yeah. And this is, this is clearly a strong motivation for him. my wife Indira, my lovely wife Indira. Nermin is offered a large sum of – Nermin money to defend his Oriental Pacific View those scenes that show Nermin title in Japan. This is his first chance has the support of his brother-in-law Nermin’s decision to relive past glory to be seen on the international stage Helari Lukavic and other members of and contest a world title is against the since his comeback. The stakes are the Bosnian–Australian community. wishes of his wife and daughters. high. Nermin knows if he loses this fight he drops in the rankings and that • Why is Nermin’s return to boxing • Use the quotations listed below to at forty-two years of age he may never important to Helari and others? generate a discussion of how Ner- be able to climb his way back. How do they react to Nermin’s min’s family react to his decision to victories and defeats? return to the ring. • Watch Nermin as he trains, fights • How do the filmmakers portray and then deals with defeat. What Nermin’s friends and fans? It’s really hard to watch the fights. It’s do these scenes tell us about Ner- hard to see your dad up there. – Tea min’s commitment to his dream? Nermin’s work • ‘Nermin is dignified in defeat.’ Do I understand in a way that she doesn’t you agree? We help people under the influence of want to be there, like, I don’t know if alcohol, drugs and other substances, I would want to watch my husband at For a coupla weeks now I’ve been try- and plus, you know, in any crisis. So, that age fighting still. It would be scary. ing to get Nermin a fight in Japan. It’s you never know. Anyone can ring us – Tea very good news. We’ve been chasing from the streets. – Nermin the fight for a while. – Terry He never said to me because he know I’ve been living in three cultures here I am all the time upset and maybe six, • How do the filmmakers portray in Australia. Australian community, seven days before a fight he said to Terry Fox, Nermin’s trainer? Bosnian community and Aboriginal me ‘I have a fight next week.’ – Indira community, but most of time, most of Two months after his defeat in Japan, my time, I spend in Aboriginal commu- I’m all the time still worry about him. Nermin is offered a fight for another nity with Aboriginal people. – Nermin Because I love him, I have kids with Australian Title in Newcastle. Knowing him, I live twenty-two years with him. he cannot now win a world title, the Nermin is a hero within the Aboriginal – Indira prospect of being a two-time Austral- community. In nine years patrolling ian champion, is a temptation Nermin the streets of Adelaide to ensure the She stopped watching my fights. cannot resist. safety of Aboriginal people, Nermin Since we came to Australia, that’s it has come to consider himself as she said ‘Enough for me’. So she can’t He’s from Newcastle. He’s the Aus- much Aboriginal as he is Bosnian– watch no more. – Nermin tralian Cruiserweight Champion. It all Australian. Working on the streets with depends on this match. If I win, I could Aboriginal people has given Nermin Thanks to my people the Bosnian peo- go to America. – Nermin an understanding of the issues these ple. To my family. My kids Medina and people face, and has earned him their Tea. My wife, Indira, she’s not there. • What does this response tell us respect. She says that I’m too old but I’m not. I about Nermin the person and Ner- proved I’m not too old. – Nermin min the boxer? • View those scenes that show Ner- • How do Nermin’s family, trainer, min working as a Mobile Assistance There’s no point to continue, especial- friends, the media and his oppo- Patrol Officer. What do these en- ly, you know, my whole family, my wife nent react to his decision to take counters with people on the streets and my kids, they suffer a lot, because this bout? tell us about Nermin’s personal of all this stuff, and then I suffer a lot • Listen to Nermin’s acceptance qualities? What do these encoun- as well, you know. – Nermin speech and as a class discuss ters tell us about his commitment to how Nermin is revealed to be a other people and to his community? • While Indira, Tea and Medina are victor even in defeat.

• Are you surprised that the people reluctant to support Nermin’s con- • Do you agree with Nermin’s deci- SCREEN EDUCA Nermin helps both know of and are tinued involvement in boxing their sion to call it quits after this fight? interested in his career as a boxer? commitment and respect do not waver. What do the scenes that Production Values T ION Nermin’s family portray Nermin interacting with his wife and daughters reveal about • How have the filmmakers decided That’s my daughter, my youngest family love and loyalty? to portray Nermin? 6 • A Fighting Chance begins with • How does music contribute to of Muslim cultures within Austral- archival footage from Yugoslavia the telling of Nermin’s story? Visit ia? in 1988 and then cuts to Nermin to • ‘A Fighting Chance challenges winning another bout in Australia in find out more about Unkle Ho, both boxing and cultural stere- 2006. What expectations does the whose music features in A Fighting otypes.’ Do you agree? opening sequence create? How Chance. • Write a feature article about Ner- are you positioned as a viewer? • Why does A Fighting Chance close min Sabanovic. Before you begin • Examine the narrative structure of with footage of Nermin at work? Is writing, decide on the publication A Fighting Chance and consider it an effective way to resolve the that will feature your article. Are how the documentary charts Ner- story? you writing for a tabloid newspaper min’s story. • A Fighting Chance is about real or magazine? You could write for • A Fighting Chance makes frequent people and their lives. As a class, a broadsheet newspaper like The use of still photographs. Exam- discuss the demands of making an Australian or for a local newspaper. ine the images in this guide and observational documentary like A It could even appear in one of the discuss what each still photograph Fighting Chance. supplements that come with the tells the audience about Nermin. weekend newspapers. When you • List the settings used by the film- Extended Responses have made your decision, think makers. What do these settings about your likely audience and the reveal about the participants • ‘Nermin is the perennial underdog format of your article. Use vocabu- involved? What do they suggest – highly driven yet very likeable.’ lary and adopt a tone that best about the filmmakers’ purpose? Do you agree with this assessment suits the publication that you have • Use a table to complete an analy- of Nermin? chosen. Download appropriate

sis of the production values of the • ‘A Fighting Chance is an inspiring images from the internet to include SCREEN EDUCA fight scenes. Discuss your findings documentary.’ Do you agree? in your article. Ask your teacher to with the class. • ‘A Fighting Chance offers an act as your editor and don’t forget • Why do you think the filmmakers insight into the world of boxing.’ to devise an attention-demanding T ION included news footage from Ner- Discuss. headline. min’s last fight in Newcastle? Do • Do you think Nermin’s story en- • Working in a small team, produce a you find the approach effective? courages a greater understanding news report about one of Ner- 7

above: Nermin and his daughters and wife out the front of their home in Adelaide. Nermin is wearing his Australian title belt min’s bouts. Your report would be Image at cided to pursue another. For example broadcast on either the radio or and typing the term ‘digital stories’ Michael Jordan retired from basketball television. into a reliable search engine. and then went on to pursue a career • Storyboard a promotional preview in baseball. Eric Heiden retired from for A Fighting Chance. Going Further speed skating and took up cycling. swapped rugby Making a digital story • Investigate the differences be- league for boxing. tween amateur and professional Do you know someone who has pur- boxing. • Use the internet and print texts to sued a dream despite the odds? • Create a glossary of boxing terms. read the stories of sportspeople • Find out more about a division of who have continued to live their Create a digital story about his or her boxing. Present your findings to dream despite obstacles and set- journey. the class. backs. • Locate Bosnia on a map of the • Cinderella Man (Ron Howard, A digital story uses multimedia tools world. Find out more about the 2005) is the story of James J. and visual and audio resources from unrest that forced Nermin and his Braddock. The ex-prizefighter who personal archives. Most digital stories family to flee to Australia. returned to the ring in the 1930s are approximately two to five minutes • Use the internet to find out more and beat the odds. His amazing in length. Digital stories are a unique about the work of The Mobile As- return to form became the source and powerful way to tell a story. sistance Patrol and the Aboriginal of inspiration of many down-on- Sobriety Group. their-luck Americans. Teachers You will need to write a script and • Prepare a PowerPoint presenta- may choose to show the film or source photographs and other keep- tion about a sportsperson who has suitable excerpts from the film to sakes to compose the story. Then made a comeback after retirement. their class to continue a discussion there are other decisions. Who will You could choose someone like of the themes raised by A Fighting read the script? What sounds and Lindsay Davenport, Tony Lockett Chance. music will be part of the digital story? or Darren Beadman. These are all • Further information about the What is an appropriate title? Don’t examples of sportspeople who filmmakers and the latest news on forget a dedication and end credits. returned to the sport that they had the documentary can be found at played prior to retirement. . Further information about digital sto- ries can be found on the web site of Then there are those sportspeople Katy Marriner. The Australian Centre for the Moving who retired from one sport and de-

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