"Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers"

Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers, 2010

Dir.: Chip Mabry

Prod.: Chip Mabry

For those of you who don't know, as of March 2013, I became a proud member of the Jerzey Derby Brigade, a women's flat track roller derby team! It's one of the best decisions I've ever made! Our captain Doom Hilda is an amazing and hard-working leader, and my teammates are some of the toughest, funniest, most supportive and encouraging ladies I have ever had the pleasure of being associated with. It has been hard and challenging, but twice a week, I lace up my skates and pad up within an inch of my life and work my ass off on learning everything from how to skate on one foot to how to whip a fellow player (don't worry, that's not as cruel as it sounds). It's helping me build my confidence and be a little more outgoing in social situations. I've made amazing friends and I've been having a frigging blast! 

I wanted to cover a derby-related documentary for this blog first thing I dove right back into it, but Prostitution: Behind the Veil caught my interest first. As I was searching through Hulu, I found a documentary that I had put on my original list of to-watch documentaries waaaaaay back from 2011, when I first started this blog! I found Brutal Beauty! 

One thing I have learned ever since starting derby myself was that you cannot trust what you see on films and TV about the sport. They make it look easy. I'll be the first to admit that the reason why I joined derby was because of the movie Whip It. But I knew from the day I decided to join that I wasn't going to be on the roster any time soon. I hadn't strapped on a pair of skates since elementary school. Now, well, I'm not gonna say I'm good or anything, but at least I don't look like an asshole. Thankfully, the JDB is an amazing support system and even if I'm feeling down on myself for things like not being able to execute a smooth transition (read: turn around while skating), I get a knock on the helmet from one of my teammates and the words, "It's okay, you'll get the hang of it."

Anyway, enough of me rambling. Brutal Beauty tells the story of the Rose City Rollers of Portland, Oregon, and their 2008-2009 season. It opens with a montage of skates being laced up, pads being strapped on and skaters weaving through bright orange cones, accompanied by the sounds of skates on the floor, players shouting to one another, and whistles blowing. I'm immediately choked up - by now I know these sights and sounds like I know my own heartbeat.

Rose City Rollers founder, who goes by the derby name Rocket Mean, says that roller derby is "indicative of the culture of young women in America."

Skater Blood Clottia explains that it gives women "an alter ego".

"I was captain of the cheerleading squad in high school," says skater Marollin' Monroe, a curvaceous blonde bombshell with a husky voice. "The universe wanted me to be a derby girl. I obliged it."

Rocket Mean launches into the origins story of the Rose City Rollers. In 2004, three friends - Rocket Mean, Jeff and Yvette - were having drinks at a bar. Jeff was the one who suddenly says, "We need to start a roller derby league." At the time, there was no derby in Portland. They planned for nearly two months, meeting every single night at the bar, before they began skating and recruiting. They only place they had to practice was the basement of a bowling alley that they rented out at $200 a month. Once they began to understand the rules more and had a better grip on things, the league grew at a rapid pace.

The league grew to thew point where it was eventually divided into four local teams: the Break Neck Betties, the Heartless Heathers, Guns N Rollers, and the High Rollers. Then there are two travelling teams: the Wheels of Justice and Axles of Annihilation, that compete on a national level.

"It gave us the camaraderie we were all kind of looking for," Rocket Mean adds.

There are discussions about the origins of their derby names, their quirky costumes, and, of course, the one thing synonymous to derby: injuries. Broken ribs, sprained ankles, fractured legs...everytime you step onto the track, there's a potential for injury. Skater and co-captain Angry Wrench, who is interviewed from her living room couch with her foot in a cast, describes it as "going to the bathhouse without a condom every Friday night."

My favorite part of the documentary has to be when the High Rollers' coach, a lean mean donut-making machine who goes by Rob Lobster, demonstrates the basics of roller derby rules using - what else? - donuts.

My other favorite part was an interview with skater Rhea Damage and her husband Jason, who admits that ever since his wife began roller derby, it has taken the top spot over football as his favorite sport and refers to his wife as his "favorite derby girl" (say it with me: Awwwww!!!)

"Men can get passionate about a sport when they're playing it," Jason explains, "But women...it's a whole other level. I mean, these girls devote themselves to it, and they don't even get paid!"

It's true - we actually have to pay dues to play. But ask any roller derby girl if that matters and they will say "Hell NO!" Seriously. At least three or four girls who are interviewed in this film say the exact same line: "Roller derby saved my soul."

It's true for both the skaters and fans alike. Derby is a sport that's for everyone - no matter what your size is, no matter what your skill level is, no matter what you look like.

The Rose City Roller girls - as well as my Jerzey Derby Brigade family - come from all walks of life. Women who are librarians, acupuncturists, and day care teachers strap on skates and become another person entirely when they're on the track. My own team consists of women who are lawyers, therapists, musicians, nannies and stay-at-home moms. That's what roller derby does. It takes whatever kind of mood you're in and immediately turns it on its ear, transforms it into something bigger and better.

Honestly, I spent most of this documentary crying my eyes out. It made me fall in love with this sport all over again. If I wasn't a derby girl now, I would have been immediately after seeing this film. It made me remember all of the beautiful, friendly, intelligent women that I am surrounded by weekly. They are instantly accepting of who you are and where you come from. Once you're in, you're in. I've only been a JDB member for a little less than two months and it feels like forever. I get hugs and advice and encouragement. I sweat, I laugh, and though sometimes I get frustrated, I will never quit.

....Sorry, how did this post become all about me all of a sudden?

Anyway. I have one complaint about the film and that is I wish I had seen more of a perspective from a beginning skater (or "fresh meat", which is the correct derby lingo). These girls have all been skating and on the roster for months or even years. I would have liked the film to follow at least one newbie, someone who was closer to my own experiences. But you know what? That's okay. The film gave me something to aspire to.

If you've ever had any inclination about joining roller derby, watch Brutal Beauty and I promise you, you will be hooked. It's a love affair you will never regret!

Oh, and of course, don't forget to support your local roller derby teams! :D

For more information on the Rose City Rollers: http://www.rosecityrollers.com/
For more information on the Jerzey Derby Brigade: http://www.jerzeyderby.com/

To find local derby near you: http://www.derbyroster.com/

"The Good Mother"

The Good Mother, 2009

Dir.: Sarah Klein

Prod.: Anne Labro and Tom Mason

The tagline on Sarah Klein's study on suburban motherhood reads, "What makes a good mother?"

Well, that's a loaded question if I've ever heard one. Bravo, I'm interested. How many times have you heard someone refer to another as "mother of the year" with those oh-so-sarcastic undertones? Turns out there is an actual Mother of the Year award. I am not kidding.

The Good Mother goes inside the competition and the selection process of the American Mothers Incorporated's Young Mother of the Year award. The concept of the film is good. Klein obviously was trying to make some sort of satire out of this film by cutting scenes with archival footage of the archetypal 1950's stay-at-home mom: smiling until her cheeks hurt as she makes the beds, vaccuums and serves dinner to her family before they all bow their heads to pray. But to be quite honest, I alternated between being bored and shaking my head in disbelief. 

Apparently, for the past 70-something years, American Mothers Incorporated has been electing the Young Mother of the Year. They select one mother from each state that's been nominated by her peers, then, after three days of "rigorous examination", they compete for the national title by reading aloud an essay they have each written on what being a mother means to them.

At one point in the film, Connell Branan, a former recipient of the Young Mother of the Year Award describes the feeling she had when she was given the title: "All I wanted to be was a good mom and this says, 'Yes you are!'"

Is this the level we're at now? Women need a title to believe they're a good mother? Like how a driver's license says you're a good driver?

There's no monetary prize, only a title and an opportunity to be the spokesperson for mothers all across the country. It was actually founded by none other than J.C. Penney during the Depression era. Married women were taking odd jobs and struggling to keep their children fed while their husbands were out looking for work. So Penney wanted to award the "unwavering sacrifice of mothers" for their family and children. The first Young Mother of the Year was crowned in 1935.

I'm starting to see what they were doing there. But still, the question still stands: what makes a good mother?

Well, according to American Mothers Incorporated, to qualify for the competition, the woman must fit the following criteria: she must strive to improve her mothering skills; be married to her husband (a man), in a legal ceremony; all her children must be under the age of 18; and she must be an active member of a "faith-based organization". Each mother must submit a portfolio and answer a series of questions about motherhood, such as: what do you do to nurture each child? What has influenced your decisions as a mother and a wife? Do you have a family activities time?

When asked by Klein what would disqualify a woman in the competition, one of the organizers of the Young Mother of the Year competition admitted that lesbians have never been accepted. Yeah, saw that coming from a mile away. Fun fact: Hillary Clinton was a nominee for the Young Mother of the Year in the early 1980's but didn't win nationals. 

The film focuses on four of the competetors: Tonia, the Nebraska native with two children who persuaded her to quit work and stay at home; Kimberly, the New Hampshire mom who gave up a high paying career to raise her two children; Renee, the Indiana mother of five who cries as she packs her suitcases when it's time for her to leave for the competition; and Maria, the Oregonian Type-A mother who organizes the lives of her five children to a T.

Over three days, anonymous judges evaluate the mothers on several criteria, such as the ability to relate well with others, their devotion to motherhood, and their devotion to God. The afforementioned former Young Mother of the Year, Connell Branan, who also acts as a judge in this competition, digs her hole a little deeper by announcing that American mothers have gotten "lazy and selfish...Moms need to focus on their children and not let others tackle that job."

Okay, let's pump the brakes here. Lazy and selfish? Holy hyperbole, Batman. Are you trying to tell me that just because a mother decides to put her child in daycare because she needs to work 40 hours a week to put food on the table, she's considered lazy and selfish? Right then and there Connell Branan loses all my respect.

I really lost it during a judge's deliberation. The judges are all women, of course, of varying ages. The nominated mothers have just given the speeches on which they are being judged on. One of the head judges reminds the group: "We always like to involve prayer in our decisions. We will at some point be asking the help of our Creator because he knows who should represent young mothers."

What. No, seriously - what? Okay, I'm starting to get a clearer picture of American Mothers Incorporated now...

Meanwhile, we see a glimpse of what the husbands of Tonia, Maria, Kimberly and Renee are dealing with while their wives are away, and it's almost laughable: clueless men fumble around their homes amidst crying babies and picky toddlers, wading through piles of laundry to locate their child’s favorite belt or hairbrush. It honestly shows men in quite a poor light.

When the time finally comes to announce the winners, the head judge annouces to the room that "it was kind of hard for the selection committee. We had all these leaders jumping out at us. We each spent many hours...reading portfolios and speaking with our Lord about what he wanted us to do." Okay, what?

Well, the winner is announced, there's a ton of boo-hooing and forced smiles. The women are congratulating the winner but it's so very obvious what they're thinking as they hug one another. One of the women the documentary follows goes to her room, chugs a huge bottle of Mountain Dew and tries to hold back tears as she removes her eye makeup. She contemplates to Klein what she could have done better, or differently. But then she decides that no one is perfect. Oh. Shocker.

I think Sarah Klein's efforts were valiant in The Good Mother. I think she wanted to show that this was a somewhat antiquated competition with ridiculous guidelines and that every mother is a good mother. When this was filmed in 2008, only twenty-three states nominated mothers for the competition. However, only sixteen of them actually attended the conference. Perhaps that's a bit of a signal to the organizers that not everyone feels this is a relavent competition anymore. Not to mention the fact that they are isolating a huge amount of the population - for example, the guidelines say she must be married to the father of her children. So are we saying that widows aren't good mothers? What about divorcees? In my opinion, those women work twice as hard to be good mothers to their children, and yet they won't be recognized by this committee because they're not "married". 

Overall, The Good Mother frustrated me. It was a well edited documentary, but I didn't find the subject matter completely interesting.