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 BOXING 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 was cut short. Nermin and his family makes boxing far too risky. Both of in Adelaide. What does he have to ION 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 ing their own production company Since graduating from the Flinders albums which incorporate Eastern ION 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 followed his dream? • Who do you think the documentary ION • 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 <http://www.theage.com.au/news/ Allow students to work as individu- sport/reflections-of-a-ring-life/ als or in small groups to create an 2005/11/05/1130823438185. analysis of the content, purpose and html>. 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: <http://www.youtube.com/ experience meant he was in a strong watch?v=ls8hViv-GBs>. 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 ing career prior to his retirement drink. Years of intense training have Go Champion! Let’s do it! We are with ION 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.