“When I’m on the court, I feel like I’m 50 again. But the next morning, when I woke up, I felt like I was 100 years old. » American King Van Nostrand, 90, is a tennis legend. He is the most successful senior player in history and one of the four heroes of the documentary Super Seniorsin theaters since October 2.
Directed by former British professional player Dan Lobb, this film follows the journey of four athletes with gray temples during the International Tennis Federation world championship, in Umag, Croatia, in 2019. All play in the category of the most 85 years old and “enjoy life to the fullest”, notes Dan Lobb. “They see life and death in slightly different ways but share resilience, strength, determination, passion and pride,” remarks the director.
The world’s oldest tennis player is a Ukrainian refugee
In the film, between two racket hits, one of them exclaims: “Tennis is life!” » This is the Ukrainian Leonid Stanislavskyi, now 100 years old. A true star, he took up tennis late in life, at age 90, after the death of his wife.
At the time, he had a dream: to meet Roger Federer. Today, the big players on the professional circuit want a photo with him. Although he has not yet won an official match, he has been crowned by Guinness World Records as the oldest active tennis player. “Since I turned 90, I have improved my forehand and backhand”he said mischievously, in front of Dan Lobb’s camera.
Over the course of filming, the two men developed a special relationship. “When Russia invaded Ukraine, I helped them get to safety, traces the director. Since then, we have written to each other almost every day. » Today, Leonid lives in a retirement home in Lithuania. “He doesn’t have much access to tennis lessons, but we take good care of him. His situation as a century-old war refugee is tragic, but he remains mentally and physically strong. » As for the other heroes of the film, “Tennis certainly contributed to him living old and in good health,” adds Dan Lobb.
The little yellow ball also allowed these followers to maintain a social connection. Many have lost their loved ones and are finding new ones on the other side of the net. “When I grow up, I want to be like you” slips a 70-year-old champion to the great King Van Nostrand. “Tennis gives them a group to socialize and find support,” subscriber Dan Lobb.
Famous French voices
In the documentary, it gives funny sequences, like when two players agree on a way to communicate during the match because they are going to remove their hearing aids and will no longer hear anything. It also gives strong and moving moments, like when former basketball player John Powless, 87, exhausted by his chemotherapy, is unable to maintain his rank as world No. 1.
“In tennis, as in life, you have to know how to overcome torments,” philosopher Etty Marouani, the French heroine of Super Seniors. The Parisian player, “chic and cool”refuses to give her age, but she has already been crowned French champion for over 80s several times.
The only French speaker in the documentary, she dubs herself in the French version. His three acolytes are voiced by big names in French cinema. Philippe Torreton lends his voice to John Powless, Patrick Chesnais to Leonid Stanislavskyi and Serge Riaboukine to King Van Nostrand.
In original version or in French version, Super Seniors remains, according to its director, “a love letter to tennis” which carries a message: “Growing old does not necessarily equate to being old. »
“Super Seniors” by Dan Lobb, duration 1 hour 37 minutes, in theaters since October 2.
