Brutal Beauty

A documentary devoted to the story of Portland, Oregon's Rose City Rollers roller derby league.

The project attempts to answer the question why this revival of the 1970's sport has become a staple in Portland.

The most impressive thing about Brutal Beauty is the cinematography. It's a beautifully shot film, and the production values are even more amazing when you consider it was almost certainly shot on a relentlessly tight budget.

Brutal is full of vivid characters, and the narrative is forward-moving without ever feeling contrived or nudged along by the filmmaker.

This is a must-see for any derby fan, but probably it will also appeal to those who simply enjoy great documentary film-making.