A few months ago, the NCAA formally included women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport. After debuting at the 2004 Olympics, it has skyrocketed in popularity among women and girls. This meteoric rise is wonderfully captured in filmmaker Mark Andrew Altschul’s documentary, All American.

The Mental and Physical Battle of Women’s Wrestling

In All American, Altschul crafts an inspiring, family-friendly sports film that will have you on the edge of your seat. The documentary offers an in-depth look into women’s wrestling through the lens of three high schoolers breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport. Altschul’s subjects consist of three immigrant and first-generation American teenagers. Each girl details the challenges that come with entering what has long been considered a male-dominated sport, in addition to their underlying struggles with family, cultural assimilation, and identity.

One young woman, Arham, acts as the film’s protagonist. She is Muslim, and in her community, wrestling is seen as violent and no place for a young girl like herself. However, her passion far outweighs any obligation to her family’s strongly held religious beliefs. Faced with a heartbreaking ultimatum, Arham makes the difficult decision to move out of her family home and into a shelter, all to pursue her wrestling career.

A Love Letter to an Underdog Sport

The production ran for five years and thoroughly explains the sport’s rise in popular culture. Interviews with wrestling legends, including Sue Roshan, add urgency to the momentum of overcoming the taboo of women athletes. Director Mark Andrew Altschul uses both traditionally shot footage as well as mixed media animation to portray the incredible physical and psychological tolls the sport requires.

Takeaway

All American is a powerful story of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of the American dream. It’s an inspiring watch as these unrelenting young women chase their dreams. The film is screening at the Heartland Film Festival beginning October 10th.