Fault (dir. Misha Calvert)

By: Adam Freed

The world of athletics has been permanently scarred by the existence of predatory adults who, under the disguise as a coach, trainer, or mentor, have taken advantage of trusting young athletes. While these incidents are far more the exception than the rule, the damage done to the small group of victims is life-changing and unimaginable.  While a great deal of attention is paid to the victims in the initial stages of their trauma, Misha Calvert’s dramatic short film Fault explores the lasting impact of athletic abuse as the victims age into adulthood.

What complicates the issue when it comes to coaches who take advantage of their athletes is that the athletes, especially the youngest, are so desperate to succeed and to appease their demanding instructors that the lines between personal development and abuse get blurred. In the case of Steph, captured by Sarah Rich (Purple Hearts, #Like), and her sister Gigi (Coco Jourdana), both products of the same abusive man, one follows her tennis dreams to championship status and a life of earned luxury, while the other is framed as being volatile and a lost cause of a former athlete.  Writer and director Misha Calvert (Pink Flags, All Hail Beth) pulls no punches when it comes to the obvious impact that coming of age in the presence of a predator had on both sisters. While the narrative within Fault is of the utmost importance, there is never a moment where audiences will feel transported by the performances in the short film. This is particularly true as the two sisters square off on the tennis court, a scene that feels more like a recreation than an immersive experience.  

Target Score 6.5/10 - Misha Calvert tackles the deadly serious issue of athletic abuse within the confines of her short film Fault, a dramatic experience that never packs the dramatic punch to match the seriousness of its subject matter.   

Fault was reviewed as part of Movie Archer's coverage of the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.