Film: “Kick Like a Girl”

Home > May 2008 Archive

Past Event ....... May 9^th, 2008 — 9:30 am

Kick Like a Girl soccer player Friday, May 9, 9:30 a.m. in Callahan Hall, “Kick Like a Girl”, a documentary film about what happens when an an undefeated third-grade girls soccer team competes in the boys division. A discussion will follow. Free admission and refreshments. For more information: 513-3135.

More details:
The Lewiston Public Library will host a special “breakfast showing” this Friday, May 9, of “Kick Like a Girl”, a documentary film about what happens when an undefeated third-grade girls soccer team leaves its own league to battle with the boys. Open to the public free of charge, the event begins at 9:30 a.m. in Callahan Hall on the third floor of the library. A discussion will follow.

The 23-minute film focuses on The Mighty Cheetahs, a team of girls in Utah who after two seasons of straight wins – including against teams a year older – are moved into the boys division. Narrated by eight-year-old Lizzie, a self described “soccer girl” who doesn’t let juvenile diabetes, elbow blocks or grass stains interfere with her desire to compete, the film reveals the reality of boy-girl issues and what “kick like a girl” truly means on and off the playing field.

Cited for its humor and honesty, “Kick Like a Girl” is a documentary about “hopes, dreams and possibilities,” according to its director, Jenny Mackenzie, a Ph.D. social worker turned filmmaker who also happened to serve as coach for the Cheetahs.

Kristine Lilly, captain of the U.S. World Cup Soccer Team, said “A story like “Kick Like a Girl” can only open doors for other young people. Title IX has done so much but we are still fighting battles just to get girls the same opportunities on the playing fields. Kick Like a Girl shows that when girls are given an opportunity to play, they feel better about themselves, and believe they can do anything. Isn’t that what we want for children, to be able to dream and believe they can be anything they want if only given the chance?”

The movie was enthusiastically received by audiences of all ages at its debut at the Santa Barbara Film Festival earlier this year and has been nominated for the prestigious “Billie” (Jean King) Award for the positive portrayal of women and girls in the media.

Co-sponsoring the film’s showing at the Lewiston Public Library is the Maine Women’s Fund. Members of that organization will be joined by a representative of Hardy Girls Healthy Women in a panel discussion following the screening. The film’s writer and producer, Jennifer Jordan, will also be in attendance to introduce the movie and answer questions afterward. A continental breakfast of bagels, fruit, juice, coffee and tea will be provided for all in attendance, courtesy of Merrill Lynch, underwriter of the film’s tour to eight different communities in Maine this week.

The Lewiston Public Library is located at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street in downtown Lewiston. More information is available by calling 513-3135.

Posted: Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 in Discussion, Family, Film