© 2023 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Making of 'Murderball'

'Murderball' directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro (right).
'Murderball' directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro (right).
Team USA star player Mark Zupan, right, in a scene from <i>Murderball</i>.
/
/
Team USA star player Mark Zupan, right, in a scene from Murderball.

The new documentary Murderball looks at the rough-and-tumble world of quad rugby -- otherwise known as "murderball."

Participants in the sport must have a combination of upper- and lower-body impairment. They compete in specially outfitted wheelchairs on a basketball court in four, eight-minute quarters. The film, which won the audience award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, begins with a look at the 2002 World Championship in Sweden.

Murderball focuses largely on Mark Zupan, a top-rated player and the spokesman for Team USA. Dana Adam Shapiro co-produced and co-directed the film. He is a former senior editor for Spin Magazine and founder of Icon magazine.

Zupan and Shapiro speak with Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

Copyright 2022 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.

Support local journalism by becoming a new WKAR donor and get ad-free feeds of your favorite NPR podcasts with NPR+ when you donate $8/month or more! Make your contribution today to fund more vetted news reports throughout mid-Michigan!