About I, Tonya

"I, Tonya" is a 2017 American biographical sports black comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie. The plot revolves around the life of figure skater Tonya Harding, particularly her rise to stardom and her subsequent fall from grace. The film hilariously yet with touching empathy explores the early life of Tonya, her tumultuous relationship with her mother, LaVona, her relation with ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, her rise as a top-class figure skater and the infamous 1994 attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan.

Making / Production

The film was written by Steven Rogers, who was inspired after watching a documentary about Harding. Craig Gillespie was chosen to direct due to his ability to balance humor and drama. The film was shot in a documentary-style format, with faux interviews with the characters mixed into the narrative.

Actors

• Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding: Robbie transformed herself into the controversial figure skater with an unflinchingness delivery of Harding's spirit.
• Sebastian Stan as Jeff Gillooly: Stan convincingly portrayed the charm and menace of Tonya's ex-husband.
• Allison Janney as LaVona Golden: Janney gave a riveting performance as Tonya's abusive mother, winning numerous awards for her performance.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Margot Robbie trained for five months to prepare for the role, even though she had no prior ice skating experience.
• Allison Janney won her first Academy Award for her performance in this film.
• The bird that appears with Allison Janney's character in the film was real, not CGI.

Awards

The film received multiple awards and nominations. Allison Janney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as LaVona. The film also garnered nominations at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Margot Robbie.

Quotes

• "America. They want someone to love, but they want someone to hate." - Tonya Harding
• "I was the best figure skater in the world at one point in time." - Tonya Harding
• "I didn't swear, you c**ksucker!" - LaVona Golden

Music, Soundtrack

• "Gone Daddy Gone" by Violent Femmes
• "The Passenger" by Siouxsie and the Banshees
• "Romeo And Juliet" by Dire Straits