Girlfight – Auf eigene Faust (2000)

Girlfight – Auf eigene Faust: Directed by Karyn Kusama. With Michelle Rodriguez, Jamie Tirelli, Paul Calderon, Douglas Santiago. Diana, without her father knowing it, trains as a boxer and achieves impressive success, blazing new trails for female boxers.

“I was not expecting the powerful filmmaking experience of u0026quot;Girlfightu0026quot;. Itu0026#39;s an Indie; low-budget, no big-name actors, freshman director. I had heard it was good, but not this good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePlaced in a contemporary, ethnic, working-class Brooklyn, Karyn Kusama has done an extraordinary job of capturing the day-do-day struggles of urban Latinos. Diana, the protagonist, is seething with anger and lashes out at her high school peers, getting in trouble with the school and her friends. She is being raised by her single father, who appears to love her and her brother, but applies a strict, sex-based double standard on his children. The fatheru0026#39;s double standard is illustrated by the fact that Tiny, the brother, is taking boxing lessons at the local gym, but Diana is denied similar pursuits. On an errand to the gym to meet Tiny, Diana is captivated by boxing. Tiny doesnu0026#39;t like boxing, so he and Diana trade places; he gets the money from Dad then gives it to Diana to take the lessons in his place.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is actually a feel-good movie, as Diana grows and learns about herself through boxing, meets a guy, and addresses some very serious issues head-on. Thereu0026#39;s no giggly, u0026#39;everything that can go right does go rightu0026#39; resolution a la u0026quot;Bend It Like Beckhamu0026quot;. The reality and attendant personal issues are too big for pat resolutions, but in my opinion, u0026quot;Girlfightu0026quot; is a better and more satisfying film for it.”