Gaea Girls

6.1/10 • 10

2000-08-16 • 1h 44m

Documentary

This fascinating documentary is based around the Japanese wrestling organisation Gaea's rural training camp, and traces, in the main, the careers of four hopefuls. In charge are two magnificent specimens, the butch champion Chigusa Nagaya, still venting her hurt at the hands of her army father as she tries to whip her surrogate daughters through the pain and commitment barriers; and her sophisticated and slightly menacing Chairman. It's a gruelling, physical film, as you would expect, but the makers don't make heavy weather of it. And it certainly disposes of any idea that the game is faked.

Directors: Kim Longinotto, Jano Williams
Writters: Kim Longinotto

Documentary

Gaea Girls

2000-08-16 • 1h 44m

6.1/10 • 10

Directors: Kim Longinotto, Jano Williams
Writters: Kim Longinotto

Top Billed Cast

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Chigusa Nagayo
Herself
Meiko Satomura
Herself
Yuka Sugiyama
Herself
Saika Takeuchi
Herself
Hisako Sasaki
Tomoko Kitamura
Lioness Asuka
Sonoko Kato
Kaoru Maeda
KAORU

Reviews1

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dancingdrunkintothefuture

Dec 24, 2019

7/10

raw depiction of shifting cultural ideology in Japan. fascinating divulsion into the brutal world of female wrestling which i had no idea existed in Japan. Logninotto offers a stripped back view, never appearing in front of the camera nor providing voiceover - an immersive experience, placing us in the eyes and headspace of Longinotto as she wields the camera. following the journey of a newcomer, we root for the underdog. experiencing both top tier wrestling and training, we question the morality of wrestling in the 2000s which was more of an MMA crossover. not one to miss.