Is the truth about Tonya Harding buried under layers of conflicting, self-serving narratives?
In short: The 2017 film I, Tonya frames the infamous 1994 assault on Nancy Kerrigan through the unreliable perspectives of Tonya Harding and her ex-husband. By breaking the fourth wall and presenting contradictory accounts, the movie forces audiences to question how we construct personal narratives to justify our own past actions.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, I, Tonya explores the life of figure skater Tonya Harding, focusing on her rise in the sport and her eventual downfall following the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. The screenplay, written by Steven Rogers, was born from distinct interviews with Harding and Jeff Gillooly. Because each subject recalled the events of the 1994 scandal in radically different ways, the film adopts a structure that embraces these inconsistencies, positioning the characters as unreliable narrators who reshape history to suit their own psychological needs.
The film is notable for its stylistic choices, including dark humor and a direct address to the audience, which critics have debated extensively. While some reviewers praised the film for its sympathetic yet clear-eyed look at class resentment and the pressures of fame, others argued it unfairly mocked Harding’s background. The production itself was physically demanding, with Margot Robbie—who starred as Harding and produced the project—training for four months and filming through a herniated disc. The iconic triple Axel, which Harding famously landed in competition, required visual effects because no skating double could replicate it.
The performances, particularly by Allison Janney as Harding’s mother LaVona Golden, received widespread acclaim. Janney’s portrayal of a harsh, demanding parent earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, among numerous other accolades. Despite the film's critical success and its $53.9 million worldwide gross, it remains a point of contention for those who covered the actual events. Critics like Christine Brennan and J.E. Vader have argued that the movie prioritizes a compelling narrative over factual accuracy, potentially shielding Harding from accountability for her role in the scandal.
Ultimately, the film serves as a commentary on media consumption and the way society treats public figures. By refusing to offer a single objective truth, it challenges the viewer to consider why we are drawn to stories that blur the line between victimhood and villainy. As Rogers noted, the project was less about the specific facts of the crime and more about the stories we tell ourselves to live with our own choices.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: I, Tonya
- Also: I, Tonya
- Also: Wikidata — I, Tonya · CC0
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