Though it focuses primarily on the Willams’ career and personal lives in 2011, the documentary “Venus and Serena” covers their entire lives, beginning even before the elder Venus was born. Their father Richard Williams wrote an extensive plan for his daughters’ success in tennis before Venus entered the world, not taking into account her abilities (or her sister Serena’s, for that matter). The film bounces between the near-present and the past, relating their training in the early ‘90s, growth and fame in the late ‘90s and maturity in the ‘00s and beyond. Footage from old interviews is interspersed with current-day interactions with the athletes to create a holistic picture of careers that are still going strong, despite opposition throughout their time as pros. Being raised in Compton doesn’t seem to fit with many people’s ideas about the normally aristocratic sport, and that resistance didn’t end once the Williams earned their fame and fortune.
“Venus and Serena” wins points for sharing an intimate, not-always-flattering view of the sisters that isn’t PR-friendly. This isn’t the manufactured intimacy of “Beyonce: Life Is But a Dream” but with rackets. Serena’s impressive temper makes an appearance or two, with some considerable time spent on her outburst at the 2011 US Open. Their health also figures prominently in the narrative of the film, as well as the havoc that the combo of tennis and age can wreak on a body (or bodies). It doesn’t dive too deeply into the women’s love lives, though it does reveal their philosophy about dating (and that Serena dated Brett Ratner, which we found far more troubling than cursing at a line judge).
Bill Clinton, Anna Wintour and Chris Rock wouldn’t be our first picks to appear in a sports documentary (not that we’re unhappy to see them here), but they provide interesting insight that broadens the film’s appeal beyond just tennis fans as it delves into their impact on culture and style. While it initially might seem odd to have people so far removed from the world of tennis commenting on the sisters’ success, it’s a testament to the far-reaching influence and inspiration of their story. Hearing from tennis greats Billie Jean King and John McEnroe is expected, but having McEnroe’s input (particularly since he served as a role model for the hot-tempered Serena) is essential. Given the sibling rivalry here, it’s also nice to see Patrick McEnroe, the legend’s younger, less famous brother, making a brief appearance.
