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by Norihiko Takahashi

“The Brighton Miracle” is a film that depicts how the Japan’s national rugby team, led by Australian Head Coach Eddie Jones, achieved a historic upset victory over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. The movie was made just before RWC 2019 in Japan and was released on streaming services like Amazon Prime and had a limited run in Australia, England and Japanese theaters.

The film was produced by an Australian company and shot in and Brisbane and Tokyo. It has a unique structure, mixing reenactments of events with documentary-style interviews. New Zealand actor, Temuera Morrison portrays Eddie Jones, while the real Eddie Jones also appears to share his memories, giving the film a strong sense of authenticity and a sports-documentary feel. The movie depicts the tough training sessions the players endured and delves into Jones’s personal life, including his experiences with discrimination as the son of a Japanese mother in Australia. It also explores the tension between Jones and the Japanese Rugby Football Union staff.

To add to the film’s authenticity, it includes interviews with the actual players and coaches from the 2015 team. The movie highlights how Jones was often criticized by the media and public. While the players initially felt a lot of frustration with the grueling training schedule, eight-hour days starting at 6 a.m, the film and the interviews from the players themselves prove that he revolutionized the team’s mindset, changing them from a group of “underdogs” who were used to losing into a team that was ready to fight for a win.

While the film is a compelling story, it didn’t achieve widespread global fame. It was clearly made on a low budget. For example, there are very few well-known Japanese actors in the film. The low budget is also evident in the filming locations. The training scenes, which took place in the southern part of Japan, were filmed in and around Tokyo. The actors did not even go to Brighton. Instead they used archival footage to create those scenes. This lack of budget and poor marketing limited the film’s reach and its chances of becoming a major hit.

We can see that many sports documentaries focus on the negative sides of sports—such as scandals, crimes, and misbehavior. Unlike that, this documentary film showcases the strength of people overcoming their weaknesses, breaking through barriers, and achieving victory. Although this film is a low-budget project, its approach aligns with my goal of reaffirming the universal value of sports.

THE BRIGHTON MIRACLE Worldwide Release Trailer