Screening at The Rio Theatre
Aug 21st 6:30pm
Vancouver, BC
Unlike those movies and short films I’ve recently reviewed about the “behind the scenes” of the wrestling world (namely Little Lucha and the Big Deal & Dark Match), they present the events as fiction. To understand what goes on, I recommend checking out The Death Tour. Despite its ominous name, this documentary directed by Stephan Peterson and Sonya Ballantyne takes a deep and insightful look at what motivated these talents to keep on going. It’s less about their own issues since not all of them got to fulfil their dreams, but in helping those whose lost all hope to not fall into despair.
Every winter, a small team of these hopefuls are recruited to embark on a unique pilgramage to not only learn more about themselves, but also show to others, namely local indgeninous commnuties strewn in Northern Manitoba, how to survive this rat race known as Life. This program started in the early 70s and has been going strong for 50 years!
Just what these wrestlers do is talk about their life through school assembly. They reveal their life story and hope the kids living can learn from them. The broader story arc concerns surviving depression. Whether that’s from the wrestlers themselves, or the people they are travelling on the road to entertain, without an outlet to let it all out, individuals will suffer. While other aspects of this work are like an episode of Ice Road Truckers, because the icy landscape is hard to break through. They represent the problems these small indigenous communities in Northern Manitoba have to face.
These live wrestling shows offered by Tony Condello show he has a heart of gold, and that what he offers is more than therapy for not only his team, but also to those hamlets that he visits. He’s a legend in the industry; and the people that he’s coaching in The Death Tour may become the next superstars on the WWE ring.
Chris Jericho provides some insight about why this path to redemption is challenging. He said it has helped him, and other talents like Edge, Christian and Rhino to earn their chops in emotional ways which keep them strong. What’s presented shows how they have become small town heroes to folks who need to experience hope. What this group of up-and-coming wrestlers offers isn’t simply live entertainment, but an escape to let it all out.
Here, we have Sarah “McKenrose The Scottish Warrior” McNicoll and Dez “The Eskimofo” Loreen as individuals excelling at being the new Xena: The Warrior Princess and Hercules (Legendary Journeys) for the children in these tiny communities. When the latter hailed from a past similar to what these villages are facing, he can relate. And to see how these cartoon heroes bring smiles is heartwarming.
While some people may say these shows promote violence, I say otherwise. What’s presented is encouraging. Although the inter-title card points a finger at the coming of the Europeans and their colonial attitudes, what’s shown here isn’t viewed as missionary work. These individuals want to change fringe society for the better, and salvation can be found in other ways that don’t have to be like the character Jericho played in The Dark Match.
This documentary is great at showing how these wrestlers survived their challenges. Whether it’s about an individual versus him or herself, nature or another person not letting go, I’m happy to see encouragement triumphs over hate. And perhaps one of these kids will be the next pro wrestler to come home to encourage another generation to not give up too. What comes around goes around. This time, karma can be a blessing.
5 Stars out of 5
The Death Tour team consists of:
- Sarah “McKenrose The Scottish Warrior” McNicoll
- Sean “Massive Damage” Dunster
- Sage “The Matriarch,” Morin
- Dez “The Eskimofo,” Loreen
- Tony Condello – Promoter
- Chris Jericho – Executive Producer
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