I, Tonya: A film of fact or fiction? ⛸️

I, Tonya film review - The LDN Gal

I, Tonya film review

As soon as I saw the trailer, I knew I had to see I, Tonya. The biopic, starring Margot Robbie as the lead protagonist tells the tale of famed and shamed 1990s US figure skater, Tonya Harding.

Full of angst and passion, the chronological story details the interviewed accounts of Tonya, her abusive partner Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan), and downright distant mother LaVona Golden (Allison Janney) in her early life as a competitive figure skater.

From start to finish, this controversial journey, and these relationships are raw and full of emotion. The tale is relatable, as we watch Tonya chasing her dreams relentlessly, despite her socio-economic status, unkempt style, and brash attitude constantly hindering her progression in a sport known for its grace and even snobbery.

As an impoverished woman from a broken home, the odds are against her. With fame comes a media storm, tearing her apart at any given opportunity and pitting her against her rivals, particularly fellow US figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan. Surprisingly, Tonya was quite the success and the first ever US figure skater to land a triple axel in competition.

So, what did I think of I, Tonya?

Within the film, a plot is hatched by Tonya’s partner, Jeff, to rid Tonya of her competition, aiming to scare Nancy with death threats so that she will not continue to compete. However, things take a turn for the worst when Nancy is indeed injured quite dramatically in an orchestrated attack.

To this day, Tonya’s prior knowledge of this scheme is still debated and the actual Tonya heavily rebuffed these accusations until recently in the ABC documentary, Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story.

However, the film encourages an alternative viewpoint to the infamous scandal in the early 90s, that makes the audience sympathise with Tonya throughout. The scandal thwarts Tonya’s future and ultimately leaves her disgraced and ousted in the world of competitive figure skating. Fact.

I, Tonya ensures a degree of genuine emotion and leaves the audience bitter as the angsty and passionate Tonya continues to give it her all, despite the world seemingly being out to get her. Throughout, the film leaves us rooting for Tonya, an impoverished, misunderstood and talented woman that perhaps just deserved a little bit more from life. The reality of the real-life events and Tonya’s responsibility is for you to decide.

Have you seen I, Tonya yet? What do you think of Margot Robbie as Tonya?  

Stephanie xox

Please follow me on Twitter Instagram Facebook for more updates from The LDN Gal

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Follow: