Bittersweet Rules the First Time Fest

Bittersweet Marieke Niestadt’s debut documentary about Australian fighter Diana Prazik’s bout with the Swedish WBC titleholder Frida Wallberg, foreshadows early on that something bad’s gonna happen, then throws the action back to Prazik’s preparations with trainer Lucia Rijker. Rijker, a former fighter nicknamed Lady Mike Tyson, played Billie the Blue Bear and did bad things to Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby.

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Macon Review: Bittersweet (****½)

"Director Marieke Niestadt uses a brilliant hook at the beginning of the film that hints at the result of the fight in the film’s final act. The sense of dread that looms throughout is nerve-wracking and indicative of what Diana must have been feeling. Diana’s vulnerabilities and her attempt to cover them up makes her all the more endearing. She doesn’t want to be seen as weak and her fear of losing eats away at her day after day."

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IMDb Bittersweet

It's hard to avoid clichéd descriptions like "knockout," but director Marieke Niestadt's documentary delivered a punch when it screened at the 2014 Macon Film Festival. 

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Reviews (The Netherlands)

Trouw **** 4 stars

Het Parool **** 4 stars

Volkskrant **** 4 stars   Read in Dutch 

Filmtotaal.nl **** 4 stars Read in Dutch

Cinemagazine.nl **** 4 stars Read in Dutch

Ugenda.nl **** 4 stars Read in Dutch

Telegraaf *** ½ 3 ½ stars Read in Dutch

NRC *** 3 stars Read in Dutch

Filmpje kijken.nl **** 1/2   4 1/2 stars Read in Dutch

Filmkrant *** 3 stars Read in Dutch

In the Media (The Netherlands)

Volkskrant: De dramatische afloop van een boksjaar  Read

NFF: Van catwalk naar boksring  Read

Bios agenda: Boksen is geen spelletje.  Read

NFF: Interview met Marieke Niestadt (BITTERSWEET)  Read

Spits: Lucia Rijker weer terug op het witte doek Read

Helden online: Rijker: "Er komt een waterval aan emoties voorbij" Read

Bekroonde documentaire BITTERSWEET in première tijdens het NFF  Read

Television (The Netherlands)

PAUW:  Watch 

SHOWNIEWS:  Watch  (starts at 15.29 minutes).

NFF Report (VPRO):  Watch  

Films & Sterren:  Watch  

Films & Sterren item  film:  Watch  

Lucia at "tijd voor Max":  Watch  

 

VPRO RADIO. "Nooit meer slapen" (met Lucia Rijker).:  Listen