(***) 

The six all-female, international soccer teams that converged on Mexico City in 1971 were in a league of their own. 

They were unsanctioned by the patronizing, condescending FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). Both hailed and harassed by the press. What was their objective? Winning the Women’s World Cup. 

Daily, 100,000 football fans gathered to watch them run, kick and score. None at the time knew they were creating history. But they do now. 

Tennis champs Serena and Venus Williams have wisely, thoughtfully executive produced this inspiring doc. They’ve given producer turned co-director Rachel Ramsay and director James Erskine the task of reassembling long lost footage that recreates a short period in the evolution of women’s sports that was golden.

Archival film, TV interviews and newspaper headlines patch together the controversy, frenzy and courage of the event, era and unintimidated women. Now, as senior citizens, they view their younger selves, when they were daring young warriors from Europe and Latin America. As they recount their groundbreaking experiences you fall in love with them and their moxie. 

This is a story girls, women and athletes can relate to. A sense of striving against the odds that is the hallmark of sports. Tenacity, versatility and drive to spare. Says the former footballer Ann who knew her worth even back then: “I can knit and run a chainsaw.” 

A defining moment in women’s sports history captured in 90 minutes of nostalgia and pure exhilaration. Inspiring. Defining. A gift for those who follow in these footballers’ footsteps.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHUkvgzNXdw

For more information about the Toronto International Film Festival go to https://tiff.net/. 
Visit Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.