Verdict
Summary
Before there was G.L.O.W. (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling), there was the very under the radar film Below the Belt, which is basically the same thing in the same style, with a gritty realism and a really convincing centerpiece performance by Baff, who emerges as tough, sexy, and sympathetic all at the same time.
Plot:
A young working class woman runs the gamut of ladies’ wrestling and becomes a star.
Review:
Noticed for her brash bravado when she defends herself against a coworker at a wrestling match where she serves hot dogs, Rosa (Regina Baff) is handed an opportunity that will radically change her life. A wrestling promoter sees potential in her as a female wrestler, and she takes the offer, not quite realizing how rough and lonely the gig will end up being. She learns the ropes from a couple of fellow low-level wrestlers and coaches, and gets a crash course on “fake” wrestling, which isn’t fake at all. She gets the bumps, bruises and aches to prove it, and her live-in boyfriend breaks up with her because he can’t stand the fact that she’s stronger and more resilient than he is. Soon, she’s hitting the road with some fellow lady wrestlers and hitting the mat in front of crowds and cutting her teeth as an amateur, continuing to rise in the ranks. She deals with sexism, sexual politics, jealousy, and even unwanted sexual attention from her fellow wrestlers. Eventually, Rosa has a shot at going up against the biggest name in ladies’ wrestling, a superstar known as the Mexican Spitfire.
Before there was G.L.O.W. (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling), there was the very under the radar film Below the Belt, which is basically the same thing in the same style, with a gritty realism and a really convincing centerpiece performance by Baff, who emerges as tough, sexy, and sympathetic all at the same time. She’s perfect in this movie, and director Robert Fowler did a commendable job of ingraining the textures to this simple, but effective sports film. High marks, all around, and kudos to composer Jerry Fielding for delivering a good score and some cool songs too.
Kino Lorber brings Below the Belt to Blu-ray for the first time, and it looks crisp and clear in high definition. There’s also an audio commentary by an expert on wrestling, as well as a trailer and a slipcover.
