Naomi Osaka (TV series)

Naomi Osaka
GenreDocumentary
Directed byGarrett Bradley
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Lauren Cioffi
  • Katy Murakami
  • Sally Rosen
CinematographyJon Nelson
Editors
  • Keith Fraase
  • Abhay Sofsky
  • Daniel Garber
Running time37-42 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseJuly 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)

Naomi Osaka is an American documentary television miniseries directed by Garrett Bradley. It follows the life of professional tennis player Naomi Osaka over the course of two years. It consists of three episodes, and premiered on July 16, 2021, on Netflix.[2]

Plot

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The series follows Naomi Osaka over the course of two years.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [3]
1"Rise"Garrett BradleyLeonard FrançoisJuly 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
Raised to be a winner, Naomi chases a childhood dream of becoming a champion at the 2019 US Open. But as her star rises, success and fame take a toll.
2"Champion Mentality"Garrett BradleyLeonard FrançoisJuly 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
As she explores other talents, Naomi struggles with her mental well-being and sense of purpose while dealing with the unexpected loss of a close mentor.
3"New Blueprint"Garrett BradleyLeonard FrançoisJuly 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
After George Floyd's murder, Naomi joins a protest for the first time in Minnesota. Later, she uses her platform on the court and finds her voice.

Production

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Netflix approached Garrett Bradley about making a docuseries revolving around Naomi Osaka. Bradley wanted the series to feel as if the viewer was journeying alongside Osaka, and with the intent of it not being a recap of her Wikipedia page or what had been said about her in the press.[4] Bradley also felt the series should not be a definitive portrait of Osaka but a snapshot of a period of time in her life.[5] Principal photography on the series ran from 2019 to early 2021.[6] The docuseries was announced in February 2020, with Netflix distributing, and Film45 and Uninterrupted producing.[7][8]

Release

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The series had its world premiere at AFI Docs on June 22, 2021.[9][10] It was released on Netflix on July 16, 2021.[11]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 92% based on 26 critics and an average rating of 7.30/10. The website's consensus reads: "Under director Garrett Bradley's thoughtful eye, Naomi Osaka is a nuanced, moving portrait of a young athlete learning how to navigate life on and off the court."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Naomi Osaka". AFI Docs. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  2. ^ "Naomi Osaka". Netflix. 12 February 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Naomi Osaka – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Da Costa, Cassie (July 15, 2021). "How Garrett Bradley Got Inside Naomi Osaka's Head". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Elber, Lynn (July 16, 2021). "'Naomi Osaka' docuseries takes intimate look at tennis star". The Daily Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Morfoot, Addie (July 15, 2021). "Garrett Bradley on Netflix's Naomi Osaka Documentary and Her Decision to Withdraw From the French Open". Variety. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 12, 2020). "Netflix Picks Up Naomi Osaka Docuseries About The Tennis Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Montplier, Rachel (February 13, 2021). "Sundance Winner Garrett Bradley Directing Netflix Docuseries About Naomi Osaka". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  9. ^ Johnson, Ted (May 26, 2021). "AFI Docs Announces Slate For 2021 Festival: World Premieres Include 'Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union,' 'White Coat Rebels' And 'The Slow Hustle'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Johnson, Ted (May 13, 2021). "AFI Docs Announces Initial Screenings For 2021 Event; Anthony Bourdain Project To Screen As Centerpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Dry, Jude (July 6, 2021). "'Naomi Osaka' Trailer: Garrett Bradley's Netflix Docuseries on the Tennis Superstar and Activist". IndieWire. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "Naomi Osaka". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Naomi Osaka: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
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