How women’s sports have received a bad rap from the world isn’t a new statement to be made (sexism, am I right?). But filmmakers James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay took found footage from 1971 COPA 71 Women’s Football World Cup in Mexico. Their integration of the narratives of the women involved was an exciting shift on the perspective of lost world events.
Diving into the world of women’s football, the film journeys through the stories of six different nations coming together to play for the opportunity to be champions. Through both the footage and interviews, the emotions from the first teams to participate in a women’s World Cup championship flowed seamlessly together. It all comes back to the understanding that they were pioneers of their time, and that society misunderstood their love – and otherworldly talent – for the sport. You can feel the excitement and frustration through the screen while also connecting with the pain each of these women endured for doing what they loved without the real support of the people who used them for their gifts. The footage of the plays themselves is outstanding, truly demonstrating the mass amount of talent each one of these women had throughout their short-lived careers.
Overall, COPA 71 gives a great perspective into the world of women’s sports while also broadening your understanding of today’s sports landscape. Even today women within these organizations are still fighting for their right to be viewed as professionals within the masculine-dominated world around them.
- Genre: Documentary
- Release Date: 9/7/2023
- Directed by: James Erskine, Rachel Ramsay
- Produced by: Anna Godas, Jannat Gargi, Jon Mone, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Victoria Gregory
- Studio: Dogwoof, New Black Films, Westbrook Studios
