Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Introspective docu has cursing, brand logos.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Naomi Osaka
What's the Story?
NAOMI OSAKA is a three-episode documentary series that follows tennis player Naomi Osaka as she copes with the pressures of superstardom. At the age of 20, Osaka beat Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open, making her the first Asian player to hold the top singles rank. She soon found herself having to cope with post-win publicity, as well as the pressure of being the defending champion. Cameras follow her during practices, before and after matches, and while she works on her fashion line during the off-season. Archive footage of her childhood and playing in major tournaments is also featured. Throughout it all, Osaka, along with some the people closest to her, share their thoughts about what it's like to live and work as one of the world's best tennis players.
Is It Any Good?
The honest, even-paced docuseries reveals what life is like for Naomi Osaka from her own point of view. The young, quiet athlete talks about how she feels about playing tennis, noting the physical strength and mental toughness it requires. It also reveals her struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, especially after rising to fame and winning four grand slams and, later, being unable to defend them. But Naomi Osaka is really a story about the tennis player's personal journey, throughout which she is trying to figure out who she is as an athlete, and about her efforts to find her own voice and become her own person outside of the sport. It's not the most energetic of documentaries, but if you're a tennis fan, you'll want to check it out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lives of professional tennis players. How do they make money? What kinds of sacrifices do they have to make in order to become a top-ranked player? What physical toll does playing tennis for so many years have on their bodies?
What does Naomi Osaka reveal about the relationship between athletics and good mental health? What are some of the ways that Naomi Osaka is coping with the emotional stress of being a top-seeded player? Why has she chosen to talk about this so publicly?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 16, 2021
- Cast : Naomi Osaka , Mari Osaka , Abdul Silah
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- Character Strengths : Communication , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 28, 2021
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