Man Up by Arturo Cabanas

Is there a better way to approach father-son relationships than wrestling ? In Man Up by Arturo Cabanas, we see a former US Special Forces Army Ranger coaching his son, a champion wrestler. The tactics and strategies, mindsets and motivations that dad has familiarized himself within the service are now used to benefit his son on the mat. For many civilians the father’s approach could easily seem excessive, but at the same time we recognize the mixture of pride and worry as he sees his son growing up in the post 9/11 world. We are left with the reassuring words of the son, who reminds us that he still has time to think about his possible career, and that he will become a soldier if he wants to, not because someone says he should.

During the 11 minutes of its duration, Cabanas handles the look and pace of the film in a firm way that keeps the viewer both focused and entertained. It has the intensity and style of a big budget prime-time criminal series like CSI, and the editing (lots of jump-cuts - which can of course raise the question of what was left out ? What did he say afterwards ?) presents the situation in a style much like the punches in the ring or turns and throws on the mat. Rarely has the handheld camera style worked so well. A man with a rifle can do a lot, and so can a young filmmaker with a camera. When you shoot you focus and aim, whether the tip of your finger is feeling a trigger or a ‘record’ button, the similarities are there.

Man Up is a film that can offer many lessons, especially to European filmmakers, both young and old. It does not lecture or judge. It does not try to be self-important or offer solutions. It raises questions and, I assume, makes many in the audience think. A rare treat nowadays.

Atso Pärnänen