This must have been on ESPN2
Who knew that ESPN covered Spelling Bees - the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee to be exact? I just saw the documentary film, Spellbound, which follows eight children through their trials and tribulations in the 1999 National Spelling Bee (which was broadcast by ESPN, apparently). Evidently, spelling bees are a very dangerous business.

There are many, many hazardous situations these eight young children are put through. They could get laryngitis. Can you spell that? L-A-R-Y-N-G-I-T-I-S, laryngitis. They could sprain their tongues. They could irritate their esophagi - E-S-O-P-H-A-G-I, esophagi. They could get stomach ulcers or a brain hemorrhage. An errant stage light could swing down, hit one of them in the head, maiming the contestant for life, or possibly even causing death. Spelling is a scary sport, indeed.

Not to mention, all the emotional turmoil. You thought hockey dads were a demanding crowd? You should see some of these parents. Some of them drilling their children on 4,000-8,000 words per day, all under the guise of "studying." These kinds of pressures and expectations from parents can result in years and years of expensive therapy. And the parents fighting with the judges and each other out in the crowd? Oy!

Psychotic Parents Aside
No but, all kidding aside, actually this is a very charming documentary. You truly start picking out kids that are your favorites and routing for them with every word they get. Some of which I don't think even my high school valedictorian could spell. The audience is let into their family lives. You see where they live, what schools they go to, hear their teachers speak about them, and are privy to a good deal of their hopes and dreams. Somewhere inside you wish they all could win. Except for the rich snotty ones, of course!

And the stylized moments of the documentary are great. - like, hearing the bee pronouncer calling off esoteric word after esoteric word, some of the words overlapping and melding audibly into the next. Or the long string of close-ups of cherubic, defeated faces with no sound but the repeated ding of the bell meaning the spelling of the word was incorrect. These moments really draw you into the mounting tension of the bee. You start to physically feel the anxiety and anticipation of the kids.

If you're going to bother to see a documentary film in the theatres this year, I highly recommend this one. Just be warned if you're squeamish about seeing bloodshed or injuries - spelling bees can get quite gory! No wonder ESPN airs them.