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Elena Avdija’s eye-opening documentary takes us on a journey to film sets in both France and the US, where we meet three female stunt professionals: Virginie, Petra, and Estelle. Each of them is at a different point in their career, but all share a fearless dedication to their craft. Despite facing numerous challenges in their work and personal lives, they are determined to push through. As their names appear onscreen in bold red letters with a guitar riff playing in the background, there is a hint of the iconic spaghetti western. In an industry still largely male-dominated, these women are fierce warriors and riders.
The physical requirements for performing stunts, which involve everything from being thrown down a flight of stairs to leaping off a tall building, are incredibly demanding. Despite continuing to attend training sessions, Estelle must also practice scenarios such as being hit by a car or put in a chokehold. As a seasoned professional in the industry, Petra has showcased her abilities in well-known films like Minority Report. However, due to past injuries, her body has suffered serious damage and she may require a complete replacement of her hip. Because of these factors, the more experienced Virginie has chosen to work as a stunt coordinator, a challenging transition as these roles are usually dominated by men.
Despite any physical injuries, constantly being in danger can also have a psychological effect. One woman who dreams of being a stunt performer shares that she has trouble participating in scenes that involve domestic abuse, likely due to past experiences with an abusive partner.
Besides showcasing the limited opportunities available for stuntwomen, Avdija’s movie effectively addresses the broader problem of female representation in the entertainment industry. Due to the scarcity of action-oriented roles written for women, their stunt doubles often end up as mere victims who are physically abused and disregarded, while their male colleagues have more chances to portray active and dynamic characters. As stuntwomen, they simply want to enjoy their work, but the industry poses barriers to their progress.
Source: theguardian.com
