Losers (2019)

Losers, a powerful offering from Netflix, is a compelling documentary series that debuted in 2019. This highly-engaging show subtly imparts the message that not all victories come adorned in the golden cloaks of medals, and that losing serves as a growth point in one's life, often leading the way to true victories. This less-trodden perspective provides the foundation from which this unique eight-episode series embarks.

Each episode of Losers, which averages around 30 minutes, is a murals of one person's story, each one independent from the others. Yet, despite their evident diversity, each subject shares a common thread. They are all individuals who have been labeled as 'losers' by society due to their failures in high-stakes competition.

These vividly crafted episodes sketch the biographies of these supposed 'failures,' ranging across sports like football, figure skating, boxing, golf, and curling among others. But rather than portraying these individuals as 'losers,' the series chooses to humanize them and offers to the viewers a deep insight into deliberate decision making, resilience, the power of perseverance and the true meaning of defeat.

From famous footballer Michael Bentt's boxing career, to the relentless pursuit of surfer and underdog surfer Patricia McCormick – each character explored within the show has stood up against the trials and tribulations of their life, and have resorted to the road less taken to overcome their adversities. Viewers are reminded that while these individuals may not carry the glittering badges of victory, their experiences encapsulate life lessons far richer than that of champions.

Losers not only delves into the steps the 'losers' took back on the path to discovering their true selves, it offers an in-depth exploration of the incredible power of the human spirit, on and off the field. By choosing to not stick to the traditional narrative of success and spotlighting the people often forgotten when the medals are distributed, Losers presents an uplifting contrast to usually success-lauded sports documentaries.

The storytelling of Losers is top-notch, effortlessly blending animation and stock footage with traditional documentary techniques to put viewers right into the middle of the characters' stories. This experimental style of storytelling, along with the personal narration from the subjects themselves, makes the individual's journey feel relatable. It successfully communicates how they fought societal humiliation, battled self-doubt, and then bounced back with high spirits to achieve their personal goals in their own unique ways.

Throughout its eight heart-touching episodes, the series repeatedly touches upon two underlying themes of human existence – resilience and adaptability. Every story shows a character pushed into situations full of despair only to eventually rise above them. There's a deep running message about how it's okay to fail and that one must have the courage to choose a different path if the existing one leads to constant despair.

Each episode of Losers sends a strong message to society that not all people are born champions, and that it's okay to fail, to experience defeat. It serves as a reminder that what defines us is not the number of times we fall, but how many times we choose to get back up.

The cinematography of Losers merits a mention too. Each episode is visually distinctive that fits with the spirit of the individual story being told. Sporting dramatic, gloomy, gritty, or vibrant colors based on the character’s life events adds to the immersive viewing experience.

In conclusion, Losers is a series that sets out to redefine the common perception of losing and wins in its objective spectacularly. It shines for its unique approach to storytelling, its depiction of ‘losing’ as a starting point for some of the most inspiring stories in sports, and for showing us that there is immense strength and honor in vulnerability and defeat.