By: Daniel Casallas Beltrán. Sub-edited by Austin Sparkes
‘Federico Chiesa: Back on Track’ (Juventus Creator Lab, 2023) is an 80-minute documentary following the then Juventus and Italy footballer through a serious ACL knee injury suffered in January 2022.
The film begins with the moment of injury, showing Chiesa collapsing in a match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It then tracks his long journey through surgery, physical rehabilitation, initial training, and the mental and emotional challenges that come through his recovery. Alongside the medical and athletic process, the documentary shows how family, teammates, Juventus’ medical staff, and his own internal mindset play key roles into every step of his recovery.
The documentary gives us a close view of Chiesa’s vulnerability, showing emotions of fear, frustration and doubts. It is not a highlight reel focused on a glorified comeback story, but rather intimate access into Chiesa’s day-to-day work, including physiotherapy and psychological support. It fosters a connection between the audience and Chiesa as a person, not just as a player.
The film expands the frame of those who surround Chiesa: including family members (mainly through his mother and girlfriend), teammates, and medical staff. However, considering that the documentary is produced by Chiesa’s team at the time, Juventus, it lacks criticism and internal pressure on the club, medical staff or even Chiesa himself. I wonder how ‘journalistic’ this documentary can be, as it generates conflicts of interest within the audience due to the narrative being controlled by Juventus.
Empty stadiums, moments alone, night sessions, or shots of places (Alps, clinics, childhood homes) can visually reflect inner states: isolation, longing, nostalgia. These visuals help deepen the emotional aspect without needing words. I resonate deeply with the visual aspect conveying meaning towards the emotional narrative of the documentary.
The film stays focused almost exclusively on Chiesa’s experience. It doesn’t dig deeply into systemic issues such as how clubs manage injuries, contracts, the mental health support in football broadly, or comparisons to other cases. It’s more of a case study than a critical investigation. I like how it focuses exclusively on Chiesa’s recovery, but I would’ve liked to see more criticism of the heavy load of matches for elite footballers and how their health is not prioritised in modern football.
The documentary is a useful example of how to tell a sports story that is emotionally resonant, balanced, and human. Showing the athlete’s doubts, insecurities, fear of failure can make the narrative much more compelling. Sports stories often focus on triumph, victory, or glory; but the journey through pain or uncertainty often makes the eventual return more meaningful. This inspires me to not only focus on what is happening on the field, but also to understand the work and sacrifice that go behind the moments of triumph and glory.