Karyn Kusama’s feature debut tells the story of a rebellious Latina teenager played by the then-unknown Michelle Rodriguez who channels her aggression into boxing to find a path towards self-respect and confidence. Shot entirely on New York locations on 16mm film Rodriguez became an instant star, and Kusama a director to watch after the film premiered in Sundance and returned with both the Best Director and Grand Jury Prizes.
Kusama wrote the film partly based on her own boxing experiences and set out to subvert the classic Hollywood formula by making the protagonist both female and Latino. Girlfight successfully combines urban social drama, romance, coming-of-age, and sports film genres to create a rewarding, uplifting, and emotionally satisfying whole. The inner-city locations and boxing sequences are shot with gritty authenticity, and the performances are first rate, particularly Rodriguez (who at times resembles a young Brando) and Jaime Tirelli as her trainer and surrogate father, Hector.
Co-produced by Maggie Renzi and Kusama’s mentor John Sayles, Girlfight was well-received upon release but has been little seen for two decades. Unavailable on any streaming platform and with the DVD long out of print, Lost Reels is pleased to present Girlfight from a rare original 35mm print.
Special thanks to Karyn Kusama for her support and participation.
