Girlfight

Karyn Kusama's 2000 directorial debut Girlfight proves to be more than just another feel-good sports movie. Michelle Rodriguez also debuts on-screen as Diana, a sullen and younger brother Tiny (Ray Santiago) and her trainer Hector (Jaime Tirelli), Diana channels her anger and predilection for picking fights into the boxing ring. Through her disciplined training, Diana overcomes her self-defeating tendencies and blossoms into a mature young woman. In addition to being a well-acted and well-produced film, Girlfight examines issues of gender roles, adolescent psychology, and self-discovery to create a rich and compelling drama.

One of the central issues treated by Kusama in Girlfight is gender. The eighteen-year-old protagonist is besieged with mixed messages and double standards directly related to being female in the macho world of the projects. Her interest in boxing does not please her father, and initially her trainer is reluctant to take her on. Diana proves her mental and physical prowess and thus helps to break down gender barriers.

Girlfight is also a powerful expose of teenage emotions. Partly due to her mother's death and also to a general dissatisfaction with life, Diana closes herself off to the world. Her getting into fights at school was one of the ways Diana built a psychological wall around herself, shutting out friends. Being able to channel unhealthy emotions into a physical sport like boxing demonstrates the potential for exercise to heal a fractured psyche.

Boxing enables Diana to not only channel her emotional intensity but also to honor her talents. Diana undergoes immense character change throughout the course of events in Girlfight. Success in the rink gives the young woman self-confidence and hope. Through her training she also meets people with whom she forms genuine connections with and thus overcomes her self-imposed isolation.

Girlfight is an occasionally intense feel-good movie that addresses tough issues like gender, anger, and self-development. Without becoming a cheesy rip-off of Rocky, Kusama's film enables her protagonist to become a solid hero as well as a healthy role model for young girls.