“30 for 30” The Price of Gold

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Documentary, Biography, History

Director: Nanette Burstein

Release Date: January 16, 2014

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I am not familiar with the series, “30 for 30” and am currently a sports atheist, but I was still into figure skating when Tonya Harding squared off against Nancy Harding. When someone recommended that I check out “30 for 30” The Price of Gold, it was a no brainer-I knew that I would watch it. I just wish that Tony Curtis could have hosted it a la Hollywood Babylon style then my life would be complete. It is mostly archival footage interspersed with dishy perspective from newspaper, television reporters, fellow skaters, coaches and *gasp* Tonya Harding sharing their experiences during this period. Paul Wiley was definitely Team Nancy and has not aged well. I did wish for some slight objectivity. Harding is mostly portrayed as an underdog who was cruelly judged by the media due to gender and class norms of what a female figure skater should be even before Kerrigan was knee-capped and as a product of parental then spousal abuse. “30 for 30” The Price of Gold seems more sympathetic to Harding probably because the makers got to know her during filming, but there is one brief scene where Harding says one thing happened, and the documentary cuts to someone saying that the evidence suggests the opposite. I needed more of that. Tonya, even if you weren’t guilty at all, and you were actually close friends with Nancy, she was knee-capped, she is going to be a bit frosty. To quote every reality show contestant, you’re not here to make friends! “30 for 30” The Price of Gold is a must see for people who were into the Harding-Kerrigan figure skating show down.

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