Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In
AMAZONNepotism lingers on the rim of Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, a documentary on the life and work of former football manager Alex Ferguson. Jason Ferguson, son of the acclaimed Manchester United boss, directs his debut feature documentary. He wishes to depict the times of his father. Nevertheless, with the added bonus of easy access to his subject, it is how and why Ferguson uses the information he gathers that matters most of all. There is a good recollection from those that knew him, those that worked with him, and, most importantly, the man himself. He is open, intimate, and articulated as he leads audiences through the highs and lows of his father's life as a player, person and manager.
Blurring the recollection of his brain haemorrhage with his career feels surprisingly natural for the flow of the documentary. Jason Ferguson wishes to collect the memories of his father and pair them up alongside this terrifying, recent health affliction because his father fears the loss of his memory. Such a backdrop requires skill to weave into any form of narrative, and for a first-time effort, Jason Ferguson does a supremely good job. His utilisation of archival footage is exceptional, painting a picture of the state of football and the culture and country around it. Rather than showing his accomplishments with drooling, stunned awe, we are taken behind the scenes. How the prospect talents were found, his accomplishments at other clubs outside the Premier League, the why and how of Ferguson’s tactics are explored in depth.
Scattered pockets of inconsistencies are to be found, however. Jason Ferguson is fidgeting, never sure on where his interest should lie. He spends a plentiful amount of time on his father’s early managerial career, and these moments are not just interesting, but intensely interesting. His time at Aberdeen is of particular interest. His achievements there cemented him as a fine manager indeed, overshadowed by his legacy-defining run at Manchester United. His early years at the club he spent nearly three decades at was mired by fallouts and uphill struggles. We cannot believe an underdog story, for football fans know the whole history, but Jason Ferguson’s direction does well to employ a steady system of lesser-known factoids. It skips over Alex Ferguson’s relationship with World Cup football and mentor Jock Stein, but there is simply not enough time to tell all about such an elaborate, lengthy career.
There is no denying how driven, how successful, and how intense a force Ferguson is for the world of football. Does the documentary do that justice? Unsurprisingly, yes. The benefit of having the director be so intimate in the life of the topic is that no subject is off the table. Granted, they can pick and choose what they speak of and why, but Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In does not shy away from the tougher moments. Ferguson had a life beyond his tenure at Manchester United, and the documentary does a grand job of showing that. It is personal, informative and entertaining. That is what all documentaries should strive to be, and it is nice to see a documentarian hit the ground running. A strong debut, showcasing a man who dabbled in cup glory, struggled with sectarianism and was lauded by decades of glory.