Behind the coloured costumes and fantastic alter egos they are just plain human beings. But amateur wrestlers from the American underground scene cast off all inhibitions once they are in the ring, and we are held in a solid armlock from the very first minute in "Fake It So Real", which is probably the closest you can get to a real version of "The Wrestler". The motley crew of fighters talk about their dreams and problems, and about their desire to make it to the million dollar industry of professional wrestling. But a liberating self-awareness is present in the faces of both the old veterans as well as the young hopeful talents the moment they step into the ring. Robert Greene's film is above all an entertaining look at an anarchistic and deeply insane stage show, which surpasses what most people could imagine. In what looks like a deadly serious study of bad taste, the ambitious troupe at least manages to put together a show, and one is forced to both admire and be surprised by their crazy ideas and total dedication to the audience. The circus-like chaos of tight-fitting spandex, sweaty armlocks and rehearsed TV drama never gets in the way of the surprisingly honest portraits, and one can"t avoid cheering when the body slamming gets going and slaps are dealt out left, right and centre.

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