Main Cast: Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon, Santiago Douglas, Ray Santiago, John Sayles
Release Year: 2000
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Karyn Kusama makes her debut with this sensitive, subtly told coming-of-age story about boxing and love. Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) is a tough though painfully honest girl living in Brooklyn. Surly, frustrated, and directionless, Diana seems to have a ticket on the express train to expulsion; she repeatedly finds herself in detention and schoolyard fights. At home, her weak though abusive single father Sandro (Paul Calderon) clearly favorites her bookish brother Tiny (Ray Santiago) over her. While running an errand for her father, Diana finds herself in one of New York's more renowned boxing gyms, and she instantly connects to the same. Though traditionally a thoroughly male pastime in Latino culture, Diana perseveres and gains self-worth thanks to the help of gruff Panamanian trainer Hector (Jaime Tirelli). Soon Hector assumes the role of Diana's father from her deadbeat biological progenitor. As Diana gains physical strength and agility in the ring, she finds herself drawn to the dashing boxer Adrian (Santiago Douglas), who is supposedly involved with someone else. Slowly though, the two give into their mutual attraction and fall completely in love. Fate intervenes when the two lovers are scheduled to fight one another in the ring, forcing each to choose boxing or love. Executive-produced by none other than John Sayles, this film received rave reviews at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Review
Girlfight has all of the strengths of Kusama's mentor and executive producer John Sayles, but none of his weaknesses. Like Sayles, Kusama has created complex, subtly shaded characters who seem to leap off the screen. Unlike Sayles, whose film style can seem stiff and plodding, Kusama's work is agile and sure-footed. The story unfolds naturally and effortlessly, and clearly the director has a feel for both the outer boroughs of New York and the intricacies of boxing. As Diana, Michelle Rodriguez gives one of the most electrifying performances in recent memory. Possessing both a rough beauty and a gaze that can melt steel, she is utterly believable as a teenager trying to come into her own and as a fighter who can swing a mean right hook. Both a gritty character study and a feel-good film with no cheap emotional payoffs, Girlfight is a richly entertaining work and an example of American independent filmmaking at its finest. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Ray Santiago - Tiny; Victor Sierra - Ray; Elisa Bocanegra - Marisol; Shannon Walker Williams - Veronica; Louis Guss - Don; Herb Lovelle - Cal; Thomas Barbour - Ira; J.P. Linton - Mr. Price; Iris Little Thomas - Ms. Martinez; Dadi Pinero - Edward; Belqui Ortiz - Karina; Anthony Ruiz - Tino; Jose Rabelo - Al
Credit
Ellyn Long Marshall - Casting, Marie E. Nelson - Casting, Marco Cattoretti - Costume Designer, Luca Mosca - Costume Designer, Karyn Kusama - Director, Plummy Tucker - Editor, John Sayles - Executive Producer, Caroline Kaplan - Executive Producer, Jonathan Sehring - Executive Producer, Theodore Shapiro - Composer (Music Score), Stephen Beatrice - Production Designer, Sarah Green - Producer, Maggie Renzi - Producer, Martha Griffin - Producer, Karyn Kusama - Screenwriter
Another six-song EP on which Southern Culture explores blues and country terrain more than usual, with mixed results. "Girlfight" exhibits excellent blues guitar craftmanship, but the vocals are a bit too murky (although they are punctuated by the chilling screams of bassist Mary Huff). "Whole Lotta Things" is a boppin' country stomper, while "Hey Chuck Berry" is a rock & roll teen screamer detailing Berry's infamous exploits. But other tracks drag on without much dance appeal or succinctness. ~ Matt Carlson, All Music Guide
Southern Culture on the Skids (Main Performer), Rick Miller (Guitar), Rick Miller (Vocals), Rick Miller (Group Member), David Hartman (Percussion), Mary Huff (Bass), Mary Huff (Guitar), Mary Huff (Vocals), Mary Huff (Group Member), Ron Keith (Photography), Dave Hartman (Percussion), Dave Hartman (Group Member), Dave Schmitt (Producer), Dave Schmitt (Engineer), Eddie Flowers (Art Direction), D. Kent Thompson (Photography), Spencer Adams (Saxophone), Spencer Adams (Group Member), Stan Lewis (Sequencing)
Girlfight is a 2000dramafilm starring Michelle Rodriguez. It focuses on Diana Guzman, a troubled teen who decides to channel her aggression by training to become a boxer, despite the skepticism of both her abusive father and the prospective trainers in the male-dominated sport. Girlfight was the debut film of writer/director Karyn Kusama, as well as Rodriguez's breakout role.
