First Match Explained

First Match
Director:	Olivia Newman
Music:	Olivier Alary
Cinematography:	Ashley Connor
Editing:	Tamara Meem
Studio:	Clubhouse Pictures
Distributor:	Netflix
Runtime:	102 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English

First Match is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Olivia Newman, based on her 2010 short film of the same name. The film stars Elvire Emanuelle, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo, Jharrel Jerome, and Jared Kemp. The film premiered at the 2018 South by Southwest festival on March 12 where it won the Audience Award and the LUNA/Gamechanger Award. It was then released on Netflix on March 30, 2018.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Cast

• Elvire Emanuelle as Monique
• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Darrel, Monique's father
• Colman Domingo as Coach Castile
• Jharrel Jerome as Omari
• Jared Kemp as Malik
• Allen Maldonado as Juan

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of, based on reviews, and an average rating of .^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Netflix Announces New Films, Documentaries and Docu-Series to Debut at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. January 31, 2018. The Futon Critic.
2. Web site: Olivia Newman's debut feature 'First Match' displays moves beyond typical sports drama. Myers. Kimber. Los Angeles Times. 29 March 2018. 2019-06-03.
3. Web site: SXSW Film Review: 'First Match'. Nicholson. Amy. 2018-03-22. Variety. en. 2019-06-03.
4. Web site: First Match (2018). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. .