I, Tonya - BBC iPlayer - film starring Margot Robbie

[stumbledin]

Did anyone watch this either at the time it was broadcast or on catch up?

This is a true life story and I only had a vague idea of what it was about.

But was shocked that family & domestic violence where shown as somehow comedic. Or was that because it was about (as the main character identifies) white trash so its just part of being that?

It have great reviews on first release, but that all seemed to be about film style and stuff, which always passes me by.

Allison Janney was horribly convincing as the mother from hell.

And cant blame it on men not understanding the damage of violence as it was produced by Margot Robbie.

Genuinly interested to know what anyone else thought.

Online at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mtlv

Oh yes - if you like or are in awe of ice skaters some fantastic displays.

I watched it over the last couple of days. Loved the film, thought Margot Robbie was great. I didn't really see the domestic violence as comedic as in making light of it. I found it more darkly comedic if anything. It was from Tonya's perspective and in hindsight. I saw it as her explaining how things panned out as they did. If it is as portrayed she clearly had a shitty upbringing and first marriage, swapping one abuser for another, and the ice skating community adding to the insult by being stuck up about her not fitting the mould.

Yes it was dark. I suppose I wanted her to be more angry about what had been done to her.

I thought Margot Robbie was great and stunned by how convincing Allison Janney was as her mother.

But when the showed clips at the end of the real Tonya she seemed a much quieter as a person than portrayed in the film. Margot Robbie played her as very brash.

I do hope her life is better now and doesn't have to put up with so many terrible men.

And such a shame about the skating, and that it is dominated by such snobs.

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SPOILER ALERT FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE ABOUT TO WATCH!
And also, really shitty that they delayed the trial so she could take part in the skating competition, then had the trial, found her guilty and banned her FOR LIFE from ever competing again.

I know what you mean about the domestic violence. I sort of alternated between thinking she didn’t see herself as a victim, hence not portraying it that way and thinking crikey this is a bit light-hearted

I didn’t enjoy it. The whole situation was horrible. Really unfunny circumstances and actions turned into comedy? No thanks. Some of the performances were obviously great.

I also didn’t like the way the producers paraded the real Tonya Harding around the awards circuit. Poor Nancy Kerrigan.

I thought this was a great film. Margot Robbie was really good in it. Didn't necessarily have the same views on the DV. I just took it that it was portrayed in that way as it was her "normal".

I think dv can be like this, a scuffle here, a push there, a stand off, an escalation, a repetition of bad treatment by parent and then partner, and why sometimes victims normalise it and don't see themselves as victims or worth more.

I think what made me think the film was just treating it all as part of the "usual" behaviour of people from that back ground (a bit like a C4 documentary on benefits) was the really slimy journalist character who just thought all of it was just a crass comedy.

Does anyone know if there is a documentary where Tonya is given a voice. Margot Robbie made her quite big and brash but the clip at the end made her seem less in your face than that.