Twitter
Advertisement

New documentary film 'Mudbloods' gives behind the scenes look at the very real game of Quidditch

Hint: Contains Harry Potter references

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

This isn't fiction. JK Rowling may have introduced the game of Quidditch in her Harry Potter series as fantasy but in the real world, it is taken very seriously. 

In the wizarding world, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley fly on their broomsticks (in Harry's case, a Firebolt). In the muggle world, players hold the broomsticks between their legs and run about, scoring through two hoops set at the different ends of the field. In both cases, being a contact sport, things can get bloody. 

It's not the most appealing picture, but across campuses in the United States, Quidditch is treated as a real sport. Every game is greeted with as much enthusiasm as any other sport, with teams having their sets of dedicated fans (thankfully, not cloaked in wizarding robes).  

Their dedication to the game has been captured in the documentary film Mudbloods. On October 14, Mudbloods became available for digital download on iTunes. The film is the baby of Farzad Sangari. He was studying at UCLA when he was first introduced to the university's Quidditch team. He decided to capture them on film, and started a kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for it. 

Mudbloods, thus, is the story of the UCLA Quidditch team and their journey as underdogs all the way to the Quidditch World Cup in New York in 2011. The 85-minute film captures the thrill and passion of the sport right from the changing room. 

Excerpts from an interview - nothing like what Rita Skeeter would do - with Sangari. 

Is the aim of the documentary a behind-the-scenes look at Quidditch or the underdog story of the UCLA team?
I think it's both, although I think the term "underdog" as applied to the UCLA team is not completely accurate. It has to be a behind-the-scenes look at Quidditch because unlike making a film about other sports like football or basketball, you don't have to spend time explaining where that sport came from, what the rules are, etc. It's simply accepted that these are sports already. First, we had to get over that hurdle. The people on the UCLA team helped us do that. Calling the team "underdogs" is not completely accurate and it would be more appropriate to call them "outsiders". When the film was made, it was the first time a number of West Coast teams were going to the Quidditch World Cup. 

What did you learn about the sport of Quidditch? 
One of the main things I leaned about Quidditch, and I think it's what makes it so unique, is that it's simultaneously a sport that is taken very seriously by the athletes and fans, but it's also something that is inherently playful due to its design and origin. It was challenging to accurately present the fine line between these two elements of it. 

How difficult was it to effectively explain how an imaginary game has become a reality for college students?
It wasn't easy because Quidditch can get pretty complicated rather quickly. There are four different player roles (chaser, keeper, beater, seeker) and one independent position - the snitch. Each position uses a specific ball (Quaffle, Bludger) and the Snitch is a live, human "ball". In a Quidditch match, there are essentially three games happening simultaneously.

What do the players think about the game - do they feel weird playing an imaginary sport? Are they teased because of it? 
I don't think they feel weird about it. I was consistently impressed by the passion I witnessed from everyone involved in the film. All of the people (including Quidditch players, organisers and fans both of the sport and of the Harry Potter series), shared a willingness not only to commit themselves to what they cared deeply about, but to do so openly and without reservation. There are undoubtedly going to be those who tease them about it. We touch on that in the film in a few instances, but that's not going to deter them. They know that what they've created adds meaning to their lives, so there's nothing anyone is going to say or call them that will keep them from doing this thing that they love. 

How seriously it is taken by fans? 
In terms of the fans themselves, I think they're a good example of a dichotomy. On the one hand you have the players themselves that are the most intense fans. They take games, tournaments, etc. very seriously. There are also people who are more drawn to it by the idiosyncratic nature of the sport and its theatrical makeup. They view it more as a spectacle. 

What got you interested in this subject?
Initially, I was interested in the idea of Quidditch because I thought it was so original. After I met Tom Marks, the coach/captain of the team as well as several of the players, I felt there was a bigger project that could be made. This was a special group. They were the first players to make up the UCLA team and all of them were very dedicated to the sport and very talented. In the end, while I was initially drawn in by the uniqueness of the sport, I decided to make this film because of the people I met along the way.

Watch the Mudbloods trailer:

Available for download on iTunes here.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement