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As sports on screen go, some would argue that roller derby has gotten more attention than it’s due. First, there was Rollergirls, a 2006 A&E reality show documenting an Austin, Texas league of skating sisters. Then, in 2009, Drew Barrymore rolled out Whip It, an Ellen Page vehicle in which a teen girl finds herself through the magic and camaraderie of life in the rink.
But we’re guessing you haven’t seen the world of roller derby quite like it’s presented in Derby Baby: A Story of Love, Addiction, and Rink Rash. The documentary takes viewers past the sport’s kitschy, punky, rockabilly surface — the point where most onscreen depictions stop digging — and confronts its deeper issues: its struggle to evolve as it gains popularity, clashes over corporate ownership of teams and leagues, and its simultaneous empowerment and sexual objectification of the female athletes who play it. It’s a worthy watch for anyone in Miami who’s into underground sports — especially this year, which saw the formation of the 305’s own roller derby squad, the Vice City Roller Girls.
Sat., Aug. 11, 8 p.m., 2012
