Wednesday May 11
10am, 2:30pm, 5pm, 7:30pm
Directors Robert Coe, Warwick Ross
Documentary 96 mins
South Africa/France
English/subtitles
Winner of the Audience Award at Tribeca Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival, Blind Ambition is the inspiring story of four Zimbabwean refugees who conquered the odds to become South Africa’s top sommeliers. Driven by relentless optimism, a passion for their craft and unshakeable national pride, they form Zimbabwe’s first ever wine tasting team and set their sights on the coveted title of ‘World Wine Tasting Champions’.
From the moment they arrive in France to compete, this team of mavericks turns an establishment of privilege and tradition on its head. A truly uplifting documentary that celebrates just how irrepressible the human spirit can be.
To be fair, skin colour is not the real story engine: it’s poverty. Blind Ambition is about four young men who came to South Africa in dire need and at great risk, when “foreigners” were regularly being killed in township riots. Each did what he had to do to survive. – Paul Byrnes, SMH
There’s a lot of humour and warmth in the telling as the quartet prepare for their big challenge, the film dividing its time between their compelling back stories and the refining of their skills in wine identification. – Jim Schembri, Jimschembri.com