Product Details

• Actors: Michelle Rodriguez, Santiago Douglas, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon, Ray Santiago
• Directors: Karyn Kusama
• Writers: Karyn Kusama
• Producers: Caroline Kaplan, Craig H. Shepherd, John Sayles, Jonathan Sehring, Maggie Renzi
• Format: PAL
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005NPKB
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #462,762 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Girlfight" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

First-time director Karyn Kusama tells a simple but compelling story of a young woman in Brooklyn whose violent impulses in school, and her tendency to physicalize her anger, lead her to train as a boxer. Her trainer at first puts her off, but the combination of her desire and her physical prowess changes his mind. As played by Michelle Rodriguez, Diane is a scowling lightning rod for sudden violence who discovers that she can find a sense of personal grace in boxing--in the training and in the honing of skills--that seems to spill over into her daily life, despite the disapproval of an abusive father. Kusama isn't telling a new story here, but she tells a familiar one with a sense of passion and pride in the uncharted territory this represents for women. Though a romantic subplot seems almost tacked on as an afterthought--Diane must box the boy she loves--Girlfight is engaging and even touching. -Marshall Fine

From The New Yorker

Diana Guzman (Michelle Rodriguez), a sullen, withdrawn Brooklyn girl who lives with a hapless, preening father (Paul Calderon) and an unformed younger brother (Ray Santiago), walks into a local gym where her brother boxes and at once feels at home. The trainers treat her with rough impersonality, which is exactly what she wants, and she struggles to turn her natural tendency toward violence-she's the kind of girl who hits people at school-into the skills of a boxer. This small independent movie, written and directed by Karyn Kusama, is an attempt at roughhouse feminist populism. As a director, Kusama blocks everything out too cleanly, making one point at a time rather than weaving the elements of the atmosphere together. At the end, the movie turns into a fairy tale as Diana falls for a beautiful young male boxer (Santiago Douglas) who adores her and her right hook, too. In a mortifyingly stupid scene, they are forced to fight each other in the ring. The movie may be naïve and underdone, but it has a new, live subject and, in Rodriguez, a powerhouse star who could go a long way. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This film is real. It's so real that I forgot it was a film., May 19, 2001

By 

Linda Linguvic (New York City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Girlfight [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Girlfight is the seemingly simple story of a Diana, a young woman from the projects with an attitude who trains to be a boxer. Played brilliantly by the newcomer Michelle Rodriguez, the role calls for a brooding hostile intensity as well as a deep sensitivity. Diana has to be strong, both physically mentally in order to battle the stereotypes in her macho Latino culture. And Michelle Rodriguez doesn't just have power in her biceps; she has power in her eyes. One of her narrow-eyed scowls says more than pages of dialog. During the film she learns to focus her rage into her boxing, and the joy of her growing control is apparent by the delight on her face. She also falls in love with a young male boxer, Adrian, played by Santiago Douglas, and their relationship has its ups and downs. Eventually, they have to fight each other in the ring.

The whole cast is excellent -- Jaime Tirelli as her trainer, Ray Santiago as her little brother, Elisa Bocanegra as her girlfriend, and Paul Calderon as her brutal father. And, in a small cameo performance, the famous director, John Sayles, is cast as a boring science teacher. Later, I discovered that the brilliant 32-year old writer and director of this film, Karyn Kusama, went through some training of her own. She is John Sayles former assistant and this, her first film, has already won all kinds of awards. I predict a long and brilliant career for her as well as the young actress. The entire production deserves a well-earned Bravo! Girlfight is winner on all levels. Don't miss it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Movie !!!, September 9, 2005

By 

Diva Latina (Yonkers, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girlfight (DVD)

No Wonder Michelle Rodriguez was recognized for this role, she was amazing. Because of the content of this moive, I'm glad the director chose a local girl to play Diana Gúzman. Michelle's acting, thought relatively new, was sincere in every aspect of the word. A girl who is trying to make something of her life at a young age is very rare now-a-days. This a great movie for the younger generation. It portrays hope, desire, ambition, drive, whatever you want to call it. The directing was great: the city scenes, the fighting scenes, and the family scenes sucked you into a world of struggle and survival. I recommend this movie with all sincerity.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dont box me in!, February 17, 2001

By 

Haunui Royal (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girlfight (DVD)

American movies rarely focus on the underclass without (a) glamorising the violence inherent within the 'hood' (b hammer you over the head with its socially redeeming message or (c) milk the rare and the bizarre out of the situation to titilate the overstimulated middle class adolescent audience. To its credit this movie attempts none of these. Director Karyn Kusama and lead Michelle Rodriguez can take a lot of credit and pride for the obvious work and thought that has gone into the making of this movie.It deserves all the accolades it has been awarded.

Its naturalistic shooting style and dialogue puts to shame hundreds of movies that have operated on a budget 5 times its scale.Money cant make up for lack of talent or integrity and this movie has that and more.

Diana(Michelle Rodriguez)is a young woman with an attitude. Her constant fighting at school consistently gets her in trouble with the school authorities.Her home life isnt much better with a solo dad bitter with failure and a geek younger brother at odds with the tough urban environment. To toughen him up Dad pays for him to learn boxing at what has got to be the most realistic version of the seedy gym ever filmed.She is attracted by the pugilistic world she encounters and persuades the trainer to take her on and train her.The film revolves around the challenges she has to become a boxer and gain respect,the disapproving father and a burgeoning relationship with one of the other boxers.

Its sucess comes from its simplicity. The director never overplays her hand and every scene has a ring of authenticity to it.She is served well by the lead actress who acts as if the part was written about her and for her.This almost lowkey documentary approach beautifully mirrors the no BS attitude of the character and the boxing subculture of the nickel and dime gym.Her brooding defiant glare says more about this character than 10 pages of dialogue and aptly is the image used to market the film.

Girlfight makes an interesting counterpoint to the othe rave martial movie of the moment,Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon.Both films with a stunning young female protagonist,a film grad student could have a field day (and probably will) comparing the gender and power themes inherent in both films,one yin,one yang,one soft,one hard,one on an epic scale, the other made on the others catering budget. Both a triumph for their respective directors.

Great films transcend gender,culture and ideologies.Thats because they reveal truths about the human spirit and soul at a level we all connect to. Girlfight connects with the left, the right, the jab and the uppercut. A winning combination.