GRACIE
US, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Shue, Carly Schroeder, John Doman, Andrew Shue.
Directed by Davis Guggenheim.
Gracie is a family affair. It is based on the teenage years of the actress Elizabeth Shue who appears here as Gracie’s mother. She produced the film with her husband, the director Davis Guggenheim (Oscar-winner for Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth). Her brothers Andrew and John are co-producers and Andrew, an actor, appears as the assistant coach.
The film is a focus on the ambitions of a young girl to play a sport generally considered a sport only for men. She is close to her brother, a champion soccer player, who dies in a car accident. Her father, an effective Dermot Mulroney, has favoured the boy and cannot see his daughter playing soccer. After she goes off the rails, he confronts her, she confronts him, he decides to coach her and she makes a special plea to the university board to be allowed to try out and to play. It is a hard struggle, the training makes physical demands on her as well as developing her natural skills. She is also bullied by the young men in the team. The authorities do not want her to play. However, at an appeal, the woman president of the board gives a casting vote in her favour. The coach eventually has trust in her and enables her to play in a final. Initially, she fails, but ultimately there is a happy ending and her triumph.
This is one of those films, a sports film, that is meant as an inspiration, especially to young girls and understanding from their parents. In that sense, it is an effective feminist film.
1. The film as a true story? Elizabeth Shue and her growing up, love for soccer? The quote from her at the end? Adapting the story with her brother, the brothers producing, her husband directing?
2. The Indiana town, where Elizabeth Shue grew up, the authentic houses, universities, playing fields? The clubs? The musical score?
3. The initial episode, Johnny and his bet, Gracie and the ball, kicking the bottle with her bare feet? The introduction to the theme of soccer? The match, Johnny playing, her explaining the moves? Johnny and his skills, his father’s training, Gracie not allowed to participate, the macho attitudes of her little brothers? Peter coming to the house as a friend? The build-up to the game, the rain, the atmosphere, Johnny and the kick, his failing? Gracie consoling him? The trip home, the police arriving, Gracie aware of the accident? His funeral? The family going to the tribute, Bryan and his forcefulness in his speech, wanting to win the matches?
4. Gracie’s story, wanting to play soccer, her mother hesitant? Her father not interested? The taunts of the brothers? Peter and his friendship?
5. Gracie and her friend Kate, talk, girl talk, going out, Curt and his advances? Going into the club, the discussion about age? Gracie and her being humiliated by Curt, the kiss, the bet, her failure? Her going out, drinking, picking up the boys, her father catching her? Her surliness towards him, failing exams? The reaction of the school staff?
6. Bryan’s realisation that Gracie was genuine? His beginning to coach her? Take her seriously? Challenge her? The balance with the eggs? Her exercise regime? Peter and his continued help?
7. The discussions with her mother, her mother’s ambitions to be a surgeon, choices, not failing because of not making a choice?
8. Gracie’s application to the board, the hearing, the speeches, the coach and his attitude, the manager and his hostility? The president of the board, her casting vote and coming down on Gracie’s side?
9. The tryouts, the roughness of the boys, their mocking her, Curt and his hostility? The injuries to Gracie? Her father’s advice? Her continually going back? The offer to go into the junior team, the coaching job for her father (and her mother taking on extra shifts to get income)?
10. The decision to go to the match, the memorial for Johnny, her wearing the jersey, the assistant coach and his support? Her going out, the coach offering her the opportunity for the goal, her failing? Her determined to stay out, her manoeuvres, the final goal, the acclamation?
11. The American spirit, the American sentiment, the place of girls, discrimination, their being used, seen as mere decoration, the fans, the cheerleaders? Gracie breaking through? The achievement – and American women’s soccer teams and their success?
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At the end of the film there is a comment that Elizabeth Shue, aged six, wanted to be a soccer player. She and her family, especially brother Andrew who produces and appears, have produced this film. But Elizabeth Shue now has to play the mother relating to the daughter, Carly Schroeder, who has a dream to play soccer. The director, Davis Guggenheim, is married to Elizabeth Shue.
The film is certainly quite a plea for the place of women in sport, while taking account of the arguments made against the differences between men and women, it does attack some of the misogyny in the men’s comments.
The film is also one about family. The older son has a natural talent for soccer and is on the college team. He also bonds well with his sister, with a setup where she kicks a can off a car to the upset of those who bet against her. We know then that she has a talent for soccer. When her brother fails in a match and is subsequently killed in a car accident, she asks her father to coach her but he and the family, as well as coaches and friends, think it impossible. She has some moments of kicking over the traces and resentment of her father. Ultimately, he agrees, and gives up his job and pleads his daughter’s cause. She finally gets to play, initially failing with a goal, but ultimately triumphing. It is a triumphing film.
1. A sports film, a women’s sports film? Soccer? And Gracie pioneering the place of women in soccer?
2. A family film, the place of a girl in a family of boys, her relationship with her father?
3. The typical American town, homes, school, sports, gymnasium, sports field? The musical score?
4. The prologue, Johnny and Gracie, the setup of the kick on the car, Gracie winning? Indication of her skills?
5. Johnny, his friends, in the soccer team, the intense training by his father, the father’s background (and later seeing the films of his playing)? The build-up to the match, the hopes on Johnny, the kick, his failing, everybody upset? His getting in the car, the accident to his death? The funeral and the mourning? His father’s speech at the gathering?
6. Gracie, her skills in football, her dream? Asking her father, his not taking her seriously, the boys laughing? Her being hurt?
7. Gracie, her girlfriend, flirting, going out with the boys, smoking, being found in the car by her father? Her resentments? Her harsh words to her father, and his not being able to reply? Favouring Johnny and the boys and not her? Not knowing or understanding her?
8. Her mother, understanding, not wanting her to play, thinking that her father treated her too harshly? Going to the meeting of the board, her strong speech in support of her daughter, wanting her to have the chance to fulfil her dream? Trying to restrain her husband? His giving up his job, her work as a nurse, extra shifts?
9. The discussion with the coach, thinking a girl playing soccer was too difficult? The other officials on the board? The woman on the board, the phone call? The meeting, the various representations, the implicit misogyny in some of the interventions? The woman with the casting vote?
10. Gracie, going to the trials, surviving each selection? Get the boys playing her hard? Injuries?
11. Gracie, the pep talk from her father, the comparisons with Johnny, talent and working hard? Her father and his supervision of the training, the hard exercises?
12. Peter, his friendship, with Johnny, wanting to help Gracie, being asked to confront her on the field?
13. The match, Gracie’s opportunity to kick a goal, failing? The later penalty, her second opportunity, playing and kicking the goal, the achievement, the approval?
14. The film and its support of women in sport?
