Paid In Sweat: WHIP IT (2009) – Presented on 35mm!

PRESENTED ON 35MM! 

Smalltown youth, Bliss (Elliot Page), might get a chance to get out of the mundane, toxic outdated traditions, by finding a calling in the roller derby scene with the scrappy underdog team, the Hurl Scouts. and Bliss has to navigate coming of age, pleasing the demands of others, and finding their own way. 

Hollywood royalty, and former bad girl Drew Barrymore made a sports movie once, and it’s very good. It’s not like it hadn’t been done before, roller derby on the big screen, but it’s never been this good and with as much heart as WHIP IT . This is a film made by someone who believes in identity, the journey of one’s life and the lessons learned, and the bonds built along the way. This is an earnest coming of age flick reminiscent of Breaking Away or Bend It Like Beckham. It’s exciting, fun, and refreshing. I hope Barrymore decides to make more movies one day. For now, you have this, and we get to see how she did it, together. (Vanya Garraway) 

Part of the Paid In Sweat series!

Cast/Crew Info
Director: Drew Barrymore | Cast: Elliot Page, Alia Shawkat, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore