In GIRLFIGHT, Diana Guzman (Michelle Rodriguez) is a tough high school girl with a violent streak. Between problems at school, a father who belittles her, and a lonely social life, she searches for some way to find respect, love, and challenge. Diana finds all those things in the boxing ring at a gritty Brooklyn gym, where she begins training against her father's will and eventually earns the gym's championship for female boxers.

Rodriguez's performance is what carries the film, as she makes the character of Diana Guzman real in every sense. Guzman is an awkward teenage girl whose only advantage is that she's angry. As she channels this anger into determination, she doesn't become a flawless heroine--when she gets punched in the face, it hurts--but the way she grows internally is visible, and that is the truly beautiful thing about this film. Director Karyn Kusama should also be commended for the film's subtle communication of difficult family issues and its objectivity in telling this slightly feminist tale. The inspiring soundtrack features a terrific title song by Theodore Shapiro as well as hits by artists such as Queen Latifah. A story of willpower, strength, and endurance, GIRLFIGHT wins on all fronts.

Theatrical release: September 29, 2000.

GIRLFIGHT won the Grand Jury Prize and the Best Director awards at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.

Karyn Kusama found Michelle Rodriguez through an open casting call in which she auditioned 350 girls. Rodriguez had never acted before and showed up at the audition because she thought, why not?

Rodriguez trained for four and a half months in order to play the role of Guzman. She hated getting hit in the face by professional boxers.

After shooting the film, Rodriguez was approached about boxing professionally but declined, saying that she wanted to keep her teeth intact.

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society named Karyn Kusama and Michelle Rodriguez Best Female Newcomers of 2000.

The National Board of Review named Michelle Rodriguez Outstanding Breakthrough Performance of 2000.

Excerpt: "Champions are made not born."--sign in the gym

"Boxing is...brain over brawn."--sign in the gym

"When you're not training somebody else is training to kick your ass."--sign in the gym

"You can train, but you can't fight. Girls don't have the same power."--Coach Hector to Diana Guzman

"You gotta learn how to manage your power because you've got a lot more of it than people realize."--Hector to Diana

"Would it kill you to wear a skirt once in a while?"--Dad to Diana

"Your mother was a receptionist in a very nice office. If you want money, get yourself a job." --Dad to Diana

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Single Side - Dual Layer
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Digital Dolby 2.0 - English
Digital Dolby 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary: Karyn Kusama - Director
Featurette: Making Of
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection

Michelle Rodriguez: American actress, GIRLFIGHT/BLUE CRUSH
Jamie Tirelli: 
Paul Calderon: 
Santiago Douglas: GIRLFIGHT

Karyn Kusama: GIRLFIGHT

Sarah Green: Producer/ "The Secret of Roan Inish"
Maggie Renzi: Producer
Martha Griffin: GIRLFIGHT

Theodore Shapiro: Composer, YOU, ME AND DUPREE (2006)

Plummy Tucker: Editor

"...It's a daring vision, to be sure, and one that deserves attention and even admiration..."
"...Michelle Rodriguez scores a knockout debut....GIRLFIGHT is a strong stinging film, alive with conflicts that defy glib resolutions..."
"...The film features an exceptionally confident central performance by Michelle Rodriguez...whose jutting jaw and 10-mile stare hold the viewer's attention like a clamp..."
"...A powerful and empathetic melodrama with feminist underpinnings..."
"...Under the craft and drama of GIRLFIGHT, there is a certain real feeling of danger and risk....Michelle Rodriguez is ideally cast in the movie..."
"...[A] sweet and fierce directorial debut....[GIRLFIGHT] introduces a powerful, extraordinarily gifted young actress: Michelle Rodriguez. Remember the name..."
"...[Michelle Rodriguez is] an electrifying presence....A coming-of-age tale that truly floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee..."--3 out of 4 stars
"...[Rodriguez is] incandescent....[Kusama] shows a clear, personal filmmaking style..." -- Rating: A-