Review by Darrin Flash Review: Needless to say, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll want to see this. And even if you’re not, you might get a little more out of it than you thought. Just hang in there through the first half.
Brought to us by Bond/360 and Film Attack, director Farzad Sangari’s
Mudbloods follows UCLA’s Quidditch team (I didn’t even know that was a thing) as they make their way to the Quidditch World Cup in New York City. (Again, didn’t know it existed.) Sangari centers the film on Tom Marks, the creator of UCLA’s Quidditch team, as well as collegiate Quidditch founding father Alex Benepe, letting them evoke the mindset and motivations of those involved in the burgeoning sport and explain what drives them to continue in what is mostly viewed by those not involved as fuel for a Harry Potter nerd’s fantasy.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but feel more than a little uncomfortable watching Marks, Benepe and some of their socially awkward colleagues explaining their passion for J.K. Rowling’s fantasy competition. With each attempt to explicate themselves, it becomes more apparent that they clearly know, deep down, that what they’re doing is really pretty nerdy.
Although
Mudbloods sports the subtitle
A Film About Quidditch, this movie clearly aims for a deeper look at a subculture of fans in much the same way
Trekkies did nearly two decades earlier. Yet, this film treats its subjects with far more dignity, showing us that most of them maybe aren’t so much into Quidditch as they are into self-acceptance and camaraderie. The young Harry Potter enthusiast Katie Aiani pretty much nails that sentiment with this observation: “Because it’s actually better to be seen as a little weird and to be happy than to not be the person you are.”
While I felt it was a bit slow in places, particularly the beginning, and it could use a little less detail in other segments, the Quidditch World Cup coverage is pretty well done, and a few magical moments really help make this a fairly nice way to spend 85 minutes.
Mudbloods is available now on
iTunes.
My final take (Full Price vs Matinee Only vs Wait & Rent vs Skip It) — Full Price. Even if you’re not that into Harry Potter, it has its moments. And it’s an indie film, so you gotta spread the love.
Review: Mudbloods: A Film About Quidditch 
x9 
x3
Just kidding. Thanks for reviewing this--- I wouldn't have even heard about these things otherwise! Sounds interesting.
I'll try to watch it on iTunes.
