5 Ups & 2 Downs From HBO's André The Giant Documentary

Ups...

5. The Touching Exploration Of André's Childhood

Andre The Giant HBO
HBO

Now, the positives.

Even the most ardent André The Giant fans will find something new to see in HBO's film. The opening stretch (after some highlights of André's in-ring career) is a touching look at how one of wrestling's biggest presences started out as a humble child in rural France.

André's siblings get the interview treatment, and their subtitled words lend credibility to the story of trading farm life for the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. This is as far away from WWE hyperbole as you're likely to get. André's brothers, in particular, don't view André like everyone else, because they knew him before he was so famous.

A story about one conversation André shared with his father is special. To the youngster, living on the family farm for the rest of his days was inconceivable, and it's that childlike yearn for something greater/more spectacular that opens up André's real personality.

Albeit brief, this is wonderful stuff.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.