Ever since the release of the documentary series ‘Beckham,’ the lives of David and Victoria Beckham have been a major internet sensation.
The four-part docuseries delves into various aspects, including the ascent of the soccer star’s career, intimate family moments, and a revealing revelation by Posh Spice about the most challenging period in her 24-year marriage to David.
Discussing the series, director Fisher Stevens candidly admitted that David had rarely talked about himself for more than 20 minutes in his life. He described a remarkable unscripted moment that created a buzz on the internet, wherein David confronted his wife over her claim of having a ‘working-class’ upbringing. Interestingly, David was not expected to be at home during this interview.
Stevens shared the backstory, saying, “It was our first interview with Victoria — and, honestly, I had no idea David was listening. He was supposed to be taking [his daughter] Harper to school,”
Stevens told the outlet. “I guess he got back and decided that he was going to kind of listen in to the interview.”
He continued, “I have a great cameraman, and he just knew to just go right on his face when he popped in beyond the door. I knew it was great. But at the same time, oh my God, I told him he had to leave. I’m like, ‘Dude, you’ve got to get out of here and let me talk to your wife. Come on.’ But I was really glad we got that.”
David Beckham approached Stevens, a documentarian and actor, with the project, stating, “I want to do this.” Stevens, after watching numerous interviews with David, realized that a unique approach was needed, along with additional time to make David comfortable with the documentary process.
In contrast, he found Victoria to be more articulate when it came to expressing her thoughts and emotions.
Stevens acknowledged David’s reserved nature, noting that he had concealed much of his emotional experiences but was now prepared to revisit these moments. He emphasized that British individuals, generally, are less inclined to openly discuss their lives and emotions compared to Americans.
The production company behind ‘Beckham,’ Studio 99, was also involved in the project. Despite being the subject and a producer, David entrusted the final decision on the documentary’s content to Stevens, which presented its own set of challenges.
Stevens stated, “I just said, ‘If I’m doing this, we have to talk about your whole life. Everything, the ups and the downs.'”
He mentioned that certain aspects, such as David’s experiences in Madrid in 2003 and his involvement with the Qatar World Cup, were particularly tough for him, with concerns raised by the LGBTQ community due to the host nation’s human rights record.
In addition to revealing their lives to the public, David and Victoria also had to endure severe criticism from soccer fans, especially after David’s infamous red card incident at the 1998 World Cup. Stevens expressed his disbelief at the level of abuse they faced and admired David’s ability to turn adversity into triumph, even in unfamiliar territories.
Furthermore, Stevens found David’s compulsive nature fascinating, highlighting his unwavering commitment to everything he undertakes, whether it’s beekeeping, culinary skills, or his obsession with cleanliness and order. Convincing David to allow the filming of these aspects proved to be a challenging task, as he initially hesitated.