“I prefer to set an example of confidence and strength, to inspire girls with five seconds of action, not one and a half groans.” – Michelle Rodriguez But this debut film by American independent director Karin Kusama could and will not happen. The fact is that Kusama Saba worked out the script and began looking for funding for her project, but this case was given with creak, since Kusama saw her main character only in the performance of a Latin American actress, while the producers frankly wanted that the role went to the actress of the Caucasian race and besides that she was already a famous performer. Thus, the producers covered themselves in the event of a box office failure, but Kusama’s persistence triumphed when financial assistance was offered to her by John Sales, twice nominated for ' Oscar' in the category ' Best Screenplay' and a project called 'Girlfight' launched.
And it was the debut work that became the greatest success for Karin Kusama to date. Well-received by critics, he won the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Awards. But the fees amounted to only a little more than one and a half million dollars (which is quite natural, but this will be discussed a little later) with a budget of one million - this became a classic example of the so-called "Sundance effect"' although there are many such films that participate in this forum, because its creator Robert Redford himself made it a haven just for independent cinema, and it rarely, as you know, pays for itself. And if we go back to the fact that for Kusama & #39; Female fight' - her best work, then she must definitely pay tribute to the find, since the main role was played by the Latin American, as the inspirer of the tape wished, and it was Michelle Rodriguez, the future star of the franchise ' Furious' and in general, she is now a very recognizable figure.
Kusama found Rodriguez in one of the cafes and immediately decided that this girl should play Diana Guzman, the main character ' Women's Fight'. For Rodriguez, who was just looking for a job in the Land of Dreams, this film also became the debut. And now we can go back to the words that the film did not perform well at the box office - this is natural, because, firstly, the director-debutant, and secondly, the main actress is also on screens for the first time. Who would have believed in such a movie? Just a fraction. But now it is easy to say and hardly anyone will dispute the fact that of all actresses with a Latin American appearance, Rodriguez is the most suitable for the role of a girl from a low-income family with a complex disposition and this girl can easily fight back or get into a fight herself. In general, Rodriguez immediately found his image in the cinema.
Diana Guzman grows up with her younger brother under the strict control of a despotic father. Diana is freedom-loving in her own way, but for a long time she can not get out of custody, but one day her father sends her to the gym, where, again, at the insistence of her father, her younger brother trains in boxing. And if the brother does not like this occupation, yet he is more romantic nature, then Diana immediately felt at home and secretly from everyone at the last of her own gatherings began to take lessons from a boxing coach. But she is well aware that her father will not understand her, but sooner or later it will become known and Diana will have to defend both her desire and her freedom of choice, and while Diana has her first affair with a guy who is also engaged in boxing, they will soon have to test their feelings for strength. . .
Admittedly, I did not remain as admirable as the many members of the critical environment. To be honest, the film clearly lacked depth in every detail. For example, Karin Kusama diligently wanted to show the poverty that reigns in the ghetto, the cruelty and crime that was firmly established there, but the director clearly failed, there are no special feelings about the social structure of the main character and her family. Paul Calderon did not cause any emotions, playing the image of Diana's father. It seems that he ardently embodied a wayward, tough and sometimes cruel person who does not take into account the opinion of his relatives, but the role he turned out frankly ' cardboard' So even in this case, you do not feel a special depth of dramaturgy. And the most unsightly and even strange moment in 'Women's fight' became boxing fights themselves, especially surprising sparring between men and women. Well, Karin Kusama gave her film a distinctly feminist message that frankly didn't go well with the sporting and social aspects.
In general, if it were not for the charisma of Michelle Rodriguez, it is unlikely that his awards would have taken '. Quite a quaint film, which does not particularly feel the dramaturgy, but as for the debut, it is still not so bad. Surely ardent fans ' Million Dollar Baby' can watch this independent picture. In addition, the head boxing coach in a couple of episodes there is an assistant who looks very similar to the hero Morgan Freeman from '. Not from 'Women's Fight' did Maestro Clint Eastwood draw inspiration from?
6 out of 10