‘Novice’ is an exciting mental movie that draws attention to the inner conflicts of a college student, Alex Dall, as he aims to reach the top of his rowing team. In her first directing book, Lauren Hadaway turns her head on this iconic movie that explores Alex’s mental and physical journey through a tough competition from Jamie Brill, another teenager on a rowing team.
This twisted, bold narrative stands out as a sports movie because it is about understanding the emotional aspect of Alex rowing a boat, not just the act of doing it. In ‘Novice,’ the director was able to tactfully integrate Alex’s psychological aspects into the story.
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Is The Novice A Real Story?
‘Novice’ is based on a fairy tale. In an interview with Variety, Lauren said the movie finds inspiration in her life during her college years when she was part of the Southern Methodist University rowing crew. To challenge himself, Lauren opted for a more challenging career and became busy within weeks. She went on to work a strenuous 20 hours a week working rowing for his entire college time.
Four straight years of Lauren’s college life were focused on winning the game. She even received a full scholarship for his work overtime. The director added that through Alex in the movie, he tried to establish a philosophy that he followed in his life for the audience.
Lauren believes that ordinary people can successfully separate themselves from eternal suffering in order to achieve their goals. “This movie is my existing song. I am not a religious person and in life, you have to make your own interpretation, ”said the director.
“What I have also learned from Alex, my lawyer, is that I am very happy or successful when I have a challenge. For Alex, too, it is a form of infatuation, and perhaps a mixture of nature and upbringing. ” Lauren also compared Alex to Honda and Jamie with Ferrari, saying, “Honda can beat Ferrari on the highway if Honda is willing to step on the metal, give it his all, and blow up the engine while Ferraris is on the coast. That is what I really believe. ”
In another interview, Lauren, who has worked for several years in the post-production department for films such as ‘The Hateful Eight’ ‘Whiplash,’ and ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again,’ admits that the movie is her “catharsis. ”
The director remembered that the last semester of his final year was exhausting and heartwarming, so he eagerly awaited the daily semester because all the rowing experiences of the students had cost him his life. For Lauren, her rowing experience in her college years was devastating, which is why she wrote this movie to escape that catharsis.
As for Alex’s driving or desire, Lauren said it’s not external but internal. Comparing her life with that of Alex, Lauren believes that her own desire for life comes from within. Challenges are what make both Alex and Lauren happy and successful.
In the Novice movie, Alex’s ambition to be the leader of the rowing team is based on both “care and nature.” ‘Novice’ has nothing to do with achieving high levels of competition as a national or national hero but is closely related to an unexplained inner feeling, something Lauren herself is unrelated to.
