Please consider donating to support SFPoC's community programming! Donate here.
Torrance (Kristen Dunst) is the inexhaustibly sunny lead, who captains the San Diego Toros’ cheer squad through a very bumpy road to compete in the National Cheerleading Championship in Miami. Maybe it’s because she committed the mortal sin of dropping the spirit stick at cheer camp, but things are not going her way. Putting on a big cheer smile, she manages to get the squad in formation with a nearly perfected routine, only to discover that their former cheer captain had stolen it, move-for-move, from the East Compton squad, the Clovers. Led by Isis (Gabrielle Union in an early breakout role) the Clovers are determined to make it themselves to the national championship competition and take home the trophy.
The film has some of the expected hallmarks of the teen films - mean cheerleaders, hipper-than-thou “outsiders,” homophobic jocks, and teen girls singing into their hairbrushes, but it also highlights the serious dedication and athleticism of competitive cheerleading, and manages to broach the issues of race, gender, and class. Jessica Bendinger’s script is sharp and witty and the characters are memorable enough that Bring It On has been called the iconic cheerleading movie.
Be sure to and stick around after the film to see how Bring It On stands up to the critical eyes of our lead young panelists, Jade Thompson & Mahoro Amani, and the family and friends they invite to the discussion!
About Unity360 Critical Race Film Series 2022
As a genre, teen films can be silly, fun or heartbreaking, but there is no denying popular teen films not only reflect society’s views of teenagers at the time, but also perpetuate these views - and help shape how teens see themselves. This year’s Unity360 Critical Race Film Series will explore the impact of these films across the decades and their implicit messaging, for better or worse. Discussion panels will be led by teens and the adults they invite to the space for an intergenerational perspective in analysis of race, gender, sexual orientation and other relevant aspects of identity.
Please consider donating to support SFPoC's community programming! Donate here.
Torrance (Kristen Dunst) is the inexhaustibly sunny lead, who captains the San Diego Toros’ cheer squad through a very bumpy road to compete in the National Cheerleading Championship in Miami. Maybe it’s because she committed the mortal sin of dropping the spirit stick at cheer camp, but things are not going her way. Putting on a big cheer smile, she manages to get the squad in formation with a nearly perfected routine, only to discover that their former cheer captain had stolen it, move-for-move, from the East Compton squad, the Clovers. Led by Isis (Gabrielle Union in an early breakout role) the Clovers are determined to make it themselves to the national championship competition and take home the trophy.
The film has some of the expected hallmarks of the teen films - mean cheerleaders, hipper-than-thou “outsiders,” homophobic jocks, and teen girls singing into their hairbrushes, but it also highlights the serious dedication and athleticism of competitive cheerleading, and manages to broach the issues of race, gender, and class. Jessica Bendinger’s script is sharp and witty and the characters are memorable enough that Bring It On has been called the iconic cheerleading movie.
Be sure to and stick around after the film to see how Bring It On stands up to the critical eyes of our lead young panelists, Jade Thompson & Mahoro Amani, and the family and friends they invite to the discussion!
About Unity360 Critical Race Film Series 2022
As a genre, teen films can be silly, fun or heartbreaking, but there is no denying popular teen films not only reflect society’s views of teenagers at the time, but also perpetuate these views - and help shape how teens see themselves. This year’s Unity360 Critical Race Film Series will explore the impact of these films across the decades and their implicit messaging, for better or worse. Discussion panels will be led by teens and the adults they invite to the space for an intergenerational perspective in analysis of race, gender, sexual orientation and other relevant aspects of identity.