From fall to flexibility. The Double Life of David Holmes, Stuntman and Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter

If in the saga Harry Potter we have become accustomed to supernatural figures who are freed from all human considerations, and who with the wave of a magic wand can extricate themselves from an inextricable situation, there is one for whom reality has regained its rights and is as cruel as it was; unexpected. David Holmes, Daniel Radcliffe’s teacher, was seriously injured during the filming of the seventh episode and is now paralyzed. The documentary looks back on his life. “David Holmes. the Boy Who Lived,” available this Wednesday, November 15, on HBO. An opportunity to discover this boy’s little-known story from the shadows.

Little known story

The idea behind this HBO documentary, also produced by Daniel Radcliffe himself, is about a man who was an understudy to an English actor who was cast at the age of 11. From the first film of the saga, Harry Potter to Wizard School, released in 2001, before the horrific crash that occurred in the penultimate opus; we discover the cheeky david holmes and are grateful to have been able to take part in the adventure of the wizard of hogwarts for years. Using lots of archival footage that chronicles the decade of successHarry PotterSo we’re introduced to this young stuntman who never shies away from a little joke and who seems very complicit with the other actors, especially Daniel Radcliffe. The star actor of the saga also leads the documentary, sometimes evoking the many good moments, sometimes the serious accident that David Holmes experienced.

In 2009, during filming Deathly Hallows, the young man broke his neck during a stunt. He will be paralyzed for life. Oblivious to misery, she strives to always persevere, preferring to feel lucky rather than sad. Touching without ever bringing you to tears, this documentary is definitely worth seeing whether you’re into witchcraft or not. Or how the magic of persistence works on screen.