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Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features
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Doubletime: Skipping Rope at the Apollo
Leave ‘em wanting more. That’s the old showbiz adage advising how to end a story, and that’s exactly what producer/director Stephanie Johnes does with “Doubletime”, a documentary about kids who jump ropes and the coaches who guide them to championships.
You see, there were two different national associations born in the 1970s to sponsor competitive rope jumping. One was about rope skipping, the other supported ‘double dutch’ which requires a minimum of three people and two ropes.
For the double dutch world there’s an annual Champion Double Dutch Tournament at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. This is the first year teams from rope skipping have been invited to compete. Johnes follows two teams, two members of each team, and their respective coaches through a season of competitions culminating at the Apollo. We see the practices, the competitions, hear from the competitors, parents, coaches, league founders, and end up at the Apollo Theater for an utterly sensational show.
The film’s energy is infectious, the performances dazzling, jaw dropping – and we’re left, of course, wanting more. Enjoy!