Monday, June 5, 2017

7 INSPIRING FEMALE-CENTRIC SPORTS MOVIES

By Amrita Menon (Team Creative)
   1)    Million Dollar Baby

Perhaps one of the greatest boxing films ever made, Million Dollar Baby tells the incredibly inspiring and emotionally charged story of Maggie Fitzgerald- a woman who, despite facing repeated rejection because of her gender and her age, manages to (literally) fight her way to the top under the guidance of her cantankerous trainer, Frankie Dunn. Starring Hillary Swank and Clint Eastwood, this film not only dispels the myth of women being physically weaker (the female boxers in the movie are some of the fiercest and toughest you’ll ever see), it also realistically depicts the trials and challenges of competitive boxing.


2)    Mary Kom

Another phenomenal female boxing movie, Mary Kom depicts the true story of the Olympic-winning Indian boxing champion and her fight against a society that discourages woman from pursuing dreams that go beyond the confines of their domestic duties. Starring Priyanka Chopra, this film celebrates the life of an incredible woman who refuses to give up and breaks one convention after another, inspiring millions of women around the world to dream big.


3)  A League of their Own

This 1992 classic starring Geena Davis follows the lives of the fictional Dottie Hinson and several other women who formed what eventually became the All- American Girls Professional Baseball League. While the subject matter seems unique and something that isn’t often talked about (professional women’s baseball), the themes that the movie deals with are universal and something that most people can relate to- the importance of perseverance and fighting for a dream no matter the odds. All of this is delivered through some quip-y dialogue, fantastic acting and badass baseball skills.   


4)  Chak De India

Apart from reintroducing hockey to mainstream Indian media, this film served as an inspiration to millions of women, both within India and the rest of the world. It focuses on the lives of the members of the women’s national hockey team who, under the guidance of coach Kabir Khan, learn to set aside their differences to work together. Highly entertaining, and at times tear inducing-ly patriotic, Chak De India shows us the real strength of girl power.



5)  Queen of Katwe

This brilliant and touching film inspires you to not just dream beyond gender restrictions but class and economic status as well. Starring Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelow and Lupita Nyong’o, Queen of Katwe tells the inspiring true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from a slum in Uganda who masters the game of chess and uses it to help herself and her family escape poverty. It is an extraordinary story of dreaming big and working hard to take charge of your own destiny.


6)  Bend It Like Beckham

There are several things about this film that one can relate to, from searching for your own identity to living with the expectations of your family while working hard to make your dreams come true. Bend it Like Beckham is a classic story about a girl who rebels against her traditional Sikh family- that expects her to conform to the established domestic role- to fulfil her life’s dream by becoming a professional football player. It is a light-hearted yet inspiring and extremely uplifting movie.


 7) Stick It

It’s hard to watch any decent gymnastics display without being thoroughly impressed and this movie was more than just decent. Starring Missy Peregrym and Jeff Bridges, it tells the story of Haley, a rebellious teenager who is forced to return to the world of elite competitive gymnastics. Combining witty humorous dialogue and a superior level of athletic skill, Stick It is a movie about finding someone who believes in you and overcoming all obstacles that life throws at you.




No comments:

Post a Comment

In Retrospect – Kaleidoscope, 2017

By Komal Badve (Team Creative)  Once upon a time, not too long ago, approximately 200 ladies sitting at the grand marble staircase in ...