Derby Crazy Love Explained
Derby Crazy Love is a Canadian documentary film directed by Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott of Red Queen Productions, and distributed by Women Make Movies. The film explores flat track roller derby, and its third-wave feminist empowerment.[1] It was initially released on November 14, 2013, at the Montreal International Documentary Festival.
Synopsis
Derby Crazy Love explores the evolution of the reemerging flat track roller derby, with a focus on its international sisterhood.[2] There are over 100 leagues in Canada and 1,400 worldwide.[3] Maya Gallus, one of the co-creators, explains, "[Derby is] female-dominated and player-owned and -operated, which already distinguishes it from any other sport."[4] As the film begins, Montreal Roller Derby’s New Skids on the Block rematch against the UK’s London Rollergirls for a shot at the international WFTDA Championships, and New York City’s Gotham Girls Roller Derby (which includes derby superstars Suzy Hotrod and Bonnie Thunders) defends their title.[5] This film captures how roller derby is part of punk’s counterculture, which tackles issues of masculinity, femininity, aggression, body image, queer identity, and gender norms.[6] Each team consists of athletes with these various identities that have found a team where they belong. Gallus states, "Nobody’s making a big feminist point or a queer statement, [derby] just is inclusive."[7] The sport is also a healthy outlet for of aggression, which is often denied to women.[8] Montreal’s team leader, Smack Daddy, summarizes the spirit of derby: "The fact that you’re combining roller skating, which is like, ‘let’s hold hands and go to the roller-rink,’ with chicks beating on each other physically is like, fireworks."[9]
Production
The film features music by Montreal’s Plastik Patrik et les Brutes, Lesbians on Ecstasy, and New York’s Kissy Kamikaze.[3]
Awards
- 2014: Bay Street Film Festival, People’s Choice Award
- 2015: Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Best Women in Adventure Film, Bronze[10]
- 2015: Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, Special Jury Citation, Best Film
- 2015: Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Best Soundtrack, Gold[10]
Festivals
Broadcasts
Global TV (Canada)
Reviews
- "Falling in crazy love with derby…" Daily Xtra[11]
- "Derby Crazy Love takes us to the heart of one of the last decade’s most thrilling sporting phenomena." Point of View[12]
- "There is now a definitive roller derby doc." Cult Montreal[13]
- "Derby Crazy Love goes straight to the heart of the emerging roller derby phenomenon, a vibrant and fun expression of feminist physicality…" The Rover[14]
- "You’d be wise to expect the unexpected." She Does The City[15]
- "Derby Crazy Love is an inspiration. From the first frame it’s as intoxicating as the star players." Row Three[16]
External links
Notes and References
- Red Queen Productions, "The Film," Derby Crazy Love, 2014, http://derbycrazylove.com/index.php/the-film/ .
- Salem Film Fest, "Derby Crazy Love," Salem Film Fest, 2013, http://salemfilmfest.com/2014/films/derby-crazy-love/ .
- Red Queen Productions.
- Terra Sullivan, "Derby Crazy Love Creator: ‘Counterculture Is at the Heart of Roller Derby,’" New Times Broward-Palm Beach, February 18, 2015, http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/derby-crazy-love-creator-counterculture-is-at-the-heart-of-roller-derby-6429178.
- "Derby Crazy Love at the Tropic Cinema," The Studios of Key West, 2013, https://tskw.org/derby-crazy-love-at-the-tropic-cinema/ .
- Women Make Movies, "Derby Crazy Love," Women Make Movies, 2015, http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c873.shtml.
- Sheffield Doc/Fest, "Derby Crazy Love directors at Sheffield Doc/Fest: ‘Nobody’s making a big feminist point about it – it just is inclusive’ – video interview," The Guardian video, 2:36, June 10, 2014, https://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2014/jun/10/derby-crazy-love-sheffield-doc-fest-video-interview.
- Jennifer Junkyard Morris, "Derby Crazy Love," QDoc, 2013, http://www.queerdocfest.org/film/derby-crazy-love/ .
- DW, "Derby Crazy Love," DOXA, 2014, http://www.doxafestival.ca/film/derby .
- ShefAdvFilmFest, "Shaff 2015- And The Winner Is…," Shaffield Adventure Film Festival, March 16, 2015, http://www.shaff.co.uk/news-and-press/news/2015/03/16/ShAFF2015__And_The_Winner_Is/ .
- Lauryn Kronick, "Falling in crazy love with derby," Daily Xtra (blog), November 15, 2013, http://www.dailyxtra.com/canada/arts-and-entertainment/film-and-video/falling-in-crazy-love-with-derby-73859.
- http://povmagazine.com/blog/view/pov-at-ridm-2013 "The POV guide to RIDM 2013"
- Kayla Marie Hillier, "There Is Now A Definitive Roller Derby Doc," Cult Montreal (blog), November 13, 2013, http://cultmontreal.com/2013/11/there-is-now-a-definitive-roller-derby-doc/.
- Leila Marshy, "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" Rover (blog), November 14, 2013, http://roverarts.com/2013/11/faster-pussycat-kill-kill/.
- Erica Ruth Kelly, "Derby Crazy Love: Red Queen Productions Celebrates A New Kind of Femininity with Roller Derby Documentary," She Does the City (blog), November 11, 2013, http://www.shedoesthecity.com/derby-crazy-love-red-queen-productions-celebrates-a-new-kind-of-femininity-with-roller-derby-documentary.
- Ariel Fisher, "Derby Crazy Love," Row Three (blog), November 14, 2013, http://www.rowthree.com/2013/11/14/review-derby-crazy-love/.
