Review of The Crash Reel (2013) by Justin T — 28 Mar 2015

This was an amazing documentary. I wish everyone in the world knew Kevin Pearce. His story has a special place in my heart as I too had a major head injury when I was a teenager. Lucy Walker thank you for the way you told this story. I cried. I rarely cry after an experience. I cried and it stayed with me for days.

Kevin Pearce is a snowboarder from Vermont. A very good snowboarder. Pearce is so good that he trades 1st and 2nd place wins with the Flying Tomato between 2005-2009. In prepping for the 2009 Winter Olympics, while in Park City, Utah, Kevin falls hard, concussing his head and is never the same. Walker expertly tells his story using footage verite.

Head injuries are no one's friend. They will look you right in the eye and lie to you through your own teeth. Kevin's told him he was okay. That this was a minor setback and with hard work and rehabilitation he will be right back on top competing with the best in no time. Mine told me something similar but skateboarding was my unrequited love. Back to the film, my sense of foreboding hit while watching Kevin (and his Friends) riding a chairlift for his first ride since his accident. Tears started while watching Kevin realize his mind and body were no longer in sync. It was obvious he lost the grace and that casual expert control on his board he used to possess. It was replaced with an ordinary clumsy oafishness of the unpracticed masses. Peace has some great friends. They stick with him and lessen the blow, lessen the realization that he isn't the same Kevin anymore with laughter and comradery. They definitely live up to their groups name, The Friends. It takes him a little longer to realize a comeback is never going to happen. Actually, I found it interesting that the recidivism, or the re-injury of the brain of patients with this type of head injury is like 60%! This is because the brain doesn't think it's injured. It thinks it can go back out there and do the same thing it was doing before. The poor guy Trevor Rhoda. I think its here when Kevin sees what re-injuring his head has done to Trevor that Kevin finally gets it. I actually cried here too, when Kevin is telling Trevor to respect his mom. It was powerful watching Kevin, who is dealing with his own disappointments and realizations, step out of his situation and genuinely try to give advice to someone in a similar situation but much more devastated. He sees himself in Trevor and it scares the fuck out of him, as it would anyone.

So now, all that determination and power of will that made Kevin Pearce one of the best snowboarders in the world is slowly being re-focused. Lucy Walker shows the audience this expertly, with just enough documentation. This scene with Rhoda sparks in Kevin an idea that he will focus on helping others with TBIs (traumatic brain injuries). I can't wait to see what KP does in the future.

-Kirk Forrest.