Western Film Society presents 'Girlfight'
Jan. 16, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- The Western Film Society presents the award-winning film "Girlfight," Jan. 19-21, in the Little Theatre on the WMU East Campus.
The previously announced WFS film for January, "Dancer in the Dark," was pulled back by its distributor in hopes of a wider release following announcement of this year's Academy Award nominees.
"Girlfight" will screen on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-20, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 2:30 and 5 p.m. The Little Theatre is located at the corner of Oakland Drive and Oliver St. General admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Free parking is available next to the building.
Written and directed by Karyn Kusama, "Girlfight" is a fierce rites of passage story about a quick-tempered young woman who finds discipline, self-respect and love in the most unlikely of places -- a boxing ring.
Kusama's feature film debut won several major awards and high praise from critics. "Girlfight" was the winner of the Director's Award and co-winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival and won the Young Cinema Award at the Cannes Film Festival. "Girlfight" stars newcomer Michelle Rodriguez, who won a Breakthrough Performance Award from the National Board of Review and the following praise from critic Roger Ebert, "Her Diana hungers, she cares, she is easily wounded and quick to defend herself, and all of those qualities are simply there every scene."
Variety called "Girlfight," "..a coherent picture that is at once a poignant inner-city drama, a rousing sports movie, an emotional family yarn, and above all, a sweet romance." The New York Post noted, "Girlfight is refreshing and surprising, the way independent movies are supposed to be."
For more information, call the movie line at (616) 387-8221 or visit the Kalamazoo Film Society's Web site at www.kalfilmsociety.net or the Western Film Society's Web site at www.wmich.edu/films.
Media contact: Bethany Gibson; 616 387-2370; bethany.gibson@wmich.edu