Many news stations have contributed footage to the documentary so the intensity of the story is very real. The very private Williams sisters and family and especially Oracene Price, their mother have allowed the camera into their lives during one of the most difficult years for the sisters, 2011. During this time both sisters suffered immeasurable heartache, misery and physical pain due to life threatening illnesses. The Williams family is a very tight unit, with a family circle that is as strong as steel. It is understandable that letting the world in through a stranger’s eyes would take a great deal of courage in itself. It is the actual footage of the family, archival footage of Venus and Serena on court and growing up, the anecdotes from their parents, family, star guests such as John McEnroe, Chris Rock, President Bill Clinton, Anna Wintour, Gay Talese and their hitting partner Bajin Aleksander that makes the story so powerful. Bravo to the Williams family for doing so.

In 2011 Venus and Serena saw the thing they loved best in life, the joy of playing tennis, slipping away. Venus was afflicted with a debilitating autoimmune disease and Serena battled a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Both girls had to put tennis on hold. You don’t need to be a tennis fan to love this documentary. It may need some tweaking but the story is awe-inspiring.  Great soundtrack by Wyclef Jean. Everyone should see it.

-Moira Romano

Some Statistics For Serena and Venus Williams

The sisters have 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and won Olympic gold in the doubles in 2000, 2008 and 2012.

Serena Jameka Williams Sept 26, 1981

Daughter of Richard Williams and Oracene Price

30 Grand Slam Titles, World No. 1, 4 Olympic Golds (1 Women’s Singles 3 Women’s doubles with her sister Venus)

Grand Slam titles:

15 in singles, 13 in women’s doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (’02-’03) and only the fifth woman ever to do so.

She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002, and regained this ranking for the fifth time on November 2, 2009.

She is the only female player to have won over $40 million in prize money

Venus Ebony Starr Williams June 17, 1980

Daughter of Richard and Oracene Price

7 Grand Slam Titles, World No. 1, 4 Olympic Golds (1 Singles 3 Women’s Doubles with her sister Venus)

43 career singles titles

Venus Williams has played against her sister Serena Williams in 23 professional matches since 1998, with Serena winning 13 of the 23 matches. They have played against each other in eight Grand Slam singles finals, with Serena winning six times. Beginning with the 2002 French Open, they opposed each other in four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals, the first time ever in the open era that the same two players played against each other in four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals, let alone sisters. On the doubles side, the pair have won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles playing alongside each other.  -Wikipedia