The Architecture of Obsession: A Study of The Novice (2021) Lauren Hadaway’s directorial debut, (2021), is a visceral 94-minute psychological drama that strips away the inspirational veneer of the traditional sports film to reveal a harrowing portrait of "Type-A" obsession. Inspired by Hadaway’s own experience as a collegiate rower, the film centers on Alex Dall (Isabelle Fuhrman), a queer college freshman who joins her university's novice rowing program not out of a love for the sport, but out of a pathological need to conquer the most difficult challenges she can find. The Internal Antagonist
Unlike many sports dramas where the protagonist faces an external rival or an abusive coach, Alex Dall’s primary antagonist is her own subconscious. The Novice - La matricola 2021 - 94 min Dra...