Despite its good intentions, director Madeleine Farley’s “Fist Bump” is a frustratingly one-sided documentary that raises questions but fails to fully explore them. By taking a look at how a well-meaning system can sometimes do more harm than good, this film certainly has its heart in the right place. The message is important, but the documentary lacks the balance it so desperately needs.
The film tells the story of Marcus Knight, a vibrant, joyous young man with cerebral palsy and autism who overcame incredible odds to find joy and success in musical theater. After enrolling in Saddleback College to pursue his Broadway dreams, Marcus finds his aspirations crushed after a student accuses him of sexual misconduct. Due to an unfair and flawed disciplinary process at his school, Marcus is found guilty and suspended.
What follows is a frustrating and infuriating legal battle, where Marcus initially wins a case affirming his due process rights, only for the school to appeal and reverse the ruling. The film highlights how campus disciplinary systems are supposedly designed to protect students, but can sometimes fail the most vulnerable among them.
The problem is that it’s all so one-sided. According to Marcus’ camp, all he did was take a few selfies and give a few fist bumps. We never really hear that much from the other side, which makes everything feel highly suspicious. Just because Marcus is friendly and has trouble communicating doesn’t automatically mean he’s innocent. The documentary would be so much more powerful if Farley took greater care to present both sides equally. Instead of exploring the complexity of the situation, the film leans hard into a victim-versus-villain narrative that simplifies a complicated issue.
This is still a film that will spark discussions about justice, fairness, and how we protect (or fail to protect) the most vulnerable in our society, including how some disciplinary systems don’t properly address complicated situations that involve students with disabilities. It’s a shame that Farley relies so heavily on emotional versus fact-based storytelling, especially because it feels like she is simply pushing an agenda.
“Fist Bump” could have been a truly thought-provoking documentary if it had taken a more even-handed approach. Instead, it feels like it’s preaching to the choir rather than inviting meaningful discussion.
