Airdate: Folau
Controversial documentary promisies to tackle a clash of culture, faith and football.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Programming, Video
Controversial two part documentary Folau will screen on ABC later this month, promising to tackle a clash of culture, faith and football.
Israel Folau did not participate in the doco by In Films.
Folau is the story of one of Australia’s most gifted and controversial athletes – Israel Folau – and how a social media post landed him at the heart of our culture wars, derailing careers in the process. For the first time Israel Folau’s story is examined in all its multilayered complexity, featuring crucial Pasifika voices and exploring the nexus between freedom of religion and speech, protection from discrimination for the LGBTQIA+ community, and how far the workplace can reasonably go to balance the two.
Part 1, Monday, 21 November, 8.45pm, traces Israel Folau’s upbringing in the devout Christian traditions of the Pasifika community, whose other ‘religion’ is rugby. It follows his meteoric and record setting rise through three football codes, culminating in 73 appearances for the Wallabies. While initially grappling with the pitfalls of fame and fortune, when his father Eni experiences a major health scare, Folau re-evaluates his choices, setting him on a path that will alter the course of his career and life forever.
Part 2: Monday, 28 November, 8.45pm Folau posts an internet meme that rocks the nation and sees him sacked by Rugby Australia. With insider accounts, this episode unpicks what happens in the hours, days and weeks that follow and shows the impact it had on the Pasifika community – straight and queer. As he fights his former employer in the courts of justice and public opinion, he finds an ally in the Australian Christian Lobby, becoming a voice in Australia’s political cycle, galvanising forces debating the impact of a proposed religious discrimination bill.
An In Films Production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia and developed with support from Screen NSW. ABC Commissioning Editor: Jo Chichester. ABC Head, Screen Sport & Events: Kath Earle. Director: Nel Minchin. Executive Producer: Ivan O’Mahoney.
Monday, 21Â and 28 November, 8.45pm on ABC.
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3 Responses
Knox,
Thought this was a TV blog and not open to nutjobs.
Not good.
Disappointed.
Welcome to the world of moderating. Faith and sport is part of the doco, so on topic.
As a rugby union fan it was noticeable that religion has become part of the professional rugby culture, especially for some Polynesian players who pray in a group or individually as an indication of their faith, before, during and after a game, so if NZR and RA had no issue with this at that time then individual players promoting their faith when not playing rugby will follow. Folau has paid the price for his actions being sidelined from top tier professional rugby for some while, whether that should have happened is open to conjecture as many follow his strict religious beliefs. Ironically the knee jerk reaction to Folau’s actions by then RA CEO Raelene Castle cost Rugby Australia a lot as well.