When I think of Roller Derby the first image that comes to my mind is from the 70’s: two (or more) women in tiny shorts or skirt, tight-fitting jersey and 4-wheel roller skates, skating, fighting and hitting to eachother, some lying on the floor and some others jumping over fallen skaters. When I was little I used to watch the repeats of the competitions of that time - OK, I was a child and I used to woke up early on Sundays, and there was not anything good on TV at 8 am but this stuff… - and I used to get so excited even if I didn’t quite understand what was all about, just watching the women fighting so passionately, transforming themselves into warriors, and acting as I had never seen I woman before, with their faces full of fierceness was so overwhelming and exciting. Plus, I have always loved skating sports and to practice skating itself… I haven’t done it in a long time, though (not that I don’t like it anymore, but I don’t own a pair of skates! Pity!). Well, this photo is actually from the 50’s but I think it pretty much represents what I just described.
So, I didn’t know that Roller Derby was so famous, and that the competitions were still taking place all over the U.S. and some other countries. The last time I saw a competition was like 10 years ago, and it was a repeat from the 80’s! Hence, it was very suprising to me to find out that the first film directed by Drew Barrymore, Whip it, was set in the 2000’s. I thought ‘since there’s no more roller derby tournaments this must be set in the 70’s!’ What a silly thought, huh?
I’ve gotta say this is not a great film, it’s just OK for a director’s debut, I would have expected a little bit more action in the skating scenes… I don’t know but I didn’t like the way Barrymore featured the theme, she could have shot those scenes in a different way and make them more attractive. But then again, I believe it’s not a mistake if what she really wanted to emphasize was another thing. That thing is finding one’s own path.
The leading role is played by Ellen Page - I can’t believe she’s my age! I’ve done nothing! -, very well known by her parts in Hard Candy and Juno. Page is an unhappy teenager, Bliss Cavendar, 17, who’s been forced by her mother to participate in beauty pageant contests since she was a kid, and now is happening the same with her little sister with a very small difference: the little girl is actually into it. Without anything that causes any reaction on Bliss, the only thing that makes her happy - in a strange but natural way for her age - is to upset her mother wearing the clothes she does not approve, listening to music too loud for her mother’s taste, and the most important thing: Bliss will try to find her passion behind her mother’s back. How? Just Roller Derby!
This new unknown passion that she finds in Roller Derby will also bring huge problems not only with her parents but also with her best friend. She’ll have to learn to do things the right way, without lies, to think about the possible consequences that her decisions may bring. Of course she’s entitled to choose the path she wants to go through, but always having in mind that every choice has its flaws.
In the end, it doesn’t matter if it’s Roller Derby, cooking high cousine, writing a book, to be a footballer, filmmaker, doctor, lawyer, fireman, barman, photographer, journalist… and so on, if you can find that one thing that you would do for the rest of your life with a big smile on your face, apart from the fact that you do it so well, you are SO LUCKY! There’s nothing left for you but just to ENJOY IT!
I don’t really know if I misunderstood the whole movie and all it wanted to show, I just hope this reading is not way too far from the real purpose of the film… Oh yeah! Before I forget about it, there’s one more reason you should see it (especially if you like/love KOL): the film opens with the awesome Knocked Up!
This is what I should be but I don't want to be and some day I will be. And I like the verb to be.
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