This summer I watched a film called “I, Tonya” which is based on the true story of former U.S Olympian figure skater Tonya Harding. The film was compelling and I think it was one of Margot Robbie’s top performances. I think this ties to the American Dream due to Tonya’s goals being to not only become a successful figure skater, but also to be able to have a steady career out of it in order to gain enough money to get her out out of her toxic home life. I plan on using Tonya’s story within my research project for this course and to express how in some areas we can all relate to her when reaching for our dreams, or even with defining what “success” looks like.

Some background of the film consists of Margot Robbie to ensure learning how to ice skate to nail this role, followed by capturing Harding’s rebellious spirit on the ice- seeking determination and roughness in contrast to the traditional figure skating norms. Additionally, the “contradictory” and “totally true”- up to viewers interpretation is how the film is expressed due to Tonya Harding’s character and how she is seen as witty. I think with continued research and more in depth detail about Tonya, as well as the visual aspect of the I,Tonya film can assist me in guiding my research paper within ties to the American Dream.