Review: Minnesota Mean and the Power of Sisterhood
Roller Derby isn’t a new sports feature in cinema. Go check out Whip It! and Rollerball. There are a few movies that featured Roller Girls from the Midwest. They are a special culture, and event hose movies didn’t dive as deeply into the roller derby world. Minnesota Mean is a documentary that follows a women’s roller derby team who, after years of struggle, find themselves on the road to a championship. Along the way, the audience is treated to the realities of roller derby life on and off the skates.
The Women All Have Unique Stories
The women of the Minnesota Mean roller derby team have stories that are not what you would expect. Each one had her own reasons for joining the team. Utility player “Smoka Hontas” is an indigenous woman in her 40s who thrives at roller derby. She says that her mission is to represent the indigenous community in a positive way. Meanwhile, the skater also works in her “day job” she helps mothers fighting addiction and indigenous families in need.
The “Jammer” Brickyard tells about how she got healthy, started exercising, and actually made friends—found a community—with the Minnesota Mean team. Other stories abound throughout the documentary. Aside from the short tutorial on roller derby at the opening of the film (which I appreciated and viewers will as well), the narratives of these women are heartwarming and the best parts of the film.
I won’t spoil anything, but utility player “Shiver Me Kimbers” has a story that, by the end may bring tears. Just follow it.
The Education on Derby is Simple and Essential
Minnesota Mean dives deep into the world of roller derby. It has to in order to capture how high the stakes are for each of these women. The terminology, movements, roles, and more are summed up in the beginning of the doc. Everything is explained. Some things later in the film are reiterated. The ladies also dive into little side exclaimers as needed. In this way, the film maintains its narrative qualities and avoids becoming consumed in jargon.
This is not a film about the derby, it’s about the women who, after years of hardship, finally make it to the finals. They are finally getting their Glee moment.
A Fun Action-Film of a Documentary
Minnesota Mean is packed with hits, smooth misses, and even some breaks. They’ve got the hairiest cheerleaders in sports, who also have a bit of a story to tell, too. The team itself is stellar and tough. The way they describe the hits, it’s like they are ranking paper cuts. They are a new level of heroine. By the end of the doc, the audience will be rooting for the team as much as their fans onscreen.
Minnesota Mean will be making its world premiere this month at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival on April 15th, followed by the Florida Film Festival on April 17th and Sunscreen Film Festival on April 29th, among others.
Follow the film website for more details.
Rating 4.5 of 5 stars.
