It is that time of year again when kids cannot wait for that last bell to ring before summer vacation begins. Dusk does not arrive until eight in the evening and the bar-b-q�s are set and ready to be fired up. But for a soccer player like Gracie, those things are trivial. Instead she is concerned that the grass is cut just right and the fresh morning air and energy of the sun enliven her spirit as she is ready to tackle her beloved sport. But such a privilege was not yet in effect in the 1970's, as women were not allowed to play certain field sports in school, like soccer. Although football is the choice sport of the U.S., soccer is a phenomenon in other European and Latin countries. However, the phenomenon has spread more readily in the U.S as more soccer moms are initiated in the task of driving their sons and daughters to and from practice. Thanks to title nine, which was enacted in the summer of 1972, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." (www.wilkipedia.org, 2007) This law was exercised in the summer of 1978 by a brave 15-year-old girl from New Jersey, as her courage and determination broke through the rigid opinions of her male counterparts.

In a time when women's soccer did not exist, Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder), a 15-year-old teenager from New Jersey finds herself fighting for her right to play on an all boys varsity soccer team. Taking place in 1978, when women are still fighting for their rights and trying to prove that they too are just as smart and able-bodied as men, Gracie proves to herself and to all those who doubt her that she can handle this intensely physical "male sport." Growing up in a household with three soccer-obsessed brothers and a father (Dermot Mulroney) who thinks soccer isn't a girl's sport, Gracie not only struggles to find her place in a male-dominated household, she also has to prove to her toughest critic [her father] that she too can play just as hard and rough as the boys.

When her older brother and star of the high school soccer team dies in a tragic car accident, Gracie and her family are distraught over the loss. Her only confidante and protector is now gone, but she will not allow his memory and his dream to die with him. Wanting to prove her skills and win the nationals for the team, Gracie petitions the school to allow her to take the place of her brother on the soccer team. After many discouraging comments from the coach, the guys on the team, and her own father�s skewed view of her abilities as a girl, she wins them over with her un-dying determination and commitment. Her father, a past star high school soccer player himself, begins to steadily come around, as he starts training her just as hard as he trained her brother.

This film demonstrated that woman can in fact do anything men can do, even though our patriarchic society does not seem to think so. It also demonstrated how hard women have had to fight to be heard and seen as equals. This movie was a great testament that women�s abilities are not determined by their bodies, but by their intellectual strength, courage, and will to strive. We too can fight like the �Big Boys,� on and off the field!

Gracie hits theaters June 1, 2007. For more information on the film visit www.Graciemovie.com


Did you know?

• The film is based on true events from the lives of the Shue family (producer and co-star Andrew Shue and Academy Award-nominated actress Elisabeth Shue).


• Andrew Shue wanted to tell this story for ten years, which in turn was to be a tribute to his older brother Will, who tragically died in 1988.


• The character Gracie is inspired by Elisabeth Shue, who had the experience of playing soccer and growing up in a male-dominated household.


• The Shue kids wore the same number seven that their father wore when he captained the Harvard College team in 1958.


• Elisabeth Shue was the only soccer-playing girl in South Orange and Maplewood, from age nine to thirteen in the year-round town soccer leagues.


• Will Shue, the eldest brother, captained the Columbia High School team and scored the winning goal in the 1978 State Championship.


• Younger brother John went on to become a Regional All-American while at Harvard College.


• Andrew played at Dartmouth, professionally in Africa, and later in the U.S. with the Los Angeles Galaxy.


• An article in the family's local paper once stated, "The Shues Get Their Kicks," explaining how there was a Shue in every division of their soccer league, from Andrew and Elisabeth's father down to their younger brother John.


• The bird in the film was based on a baby hawk named Amber that Andrew found in Maine and kept in his room, even sleeping with it at night to nurse it back to life.


• 2,000 audition tapes were submitted for the title role of Gracie, and were narrowed down to eight candidates: two soccer players with moderate acting experience and six young actresses who were well-versed performers but had limited exposure to the sport.


• The film was shot in New Jersey, where the Shue family spent their childhood.


• Many scenes were shot in South Orange and Maplewood. The high school in the film is the same high school Elisabeth and Andrew attended. Local pizzerias and teenage hangouts were also in the scenes.


• Thanks to the progress of gender equality and the assistance of title nine, the US Women’s National Team has won Soccer’s World Championships four times since 1991.


• In part to laws like Title Nine and brave girls like Gracie, there are over 5 million girls who play soccer in America today.

**Facts about the film were researched on www.movieweb.com, and the definition of Title Nine was found on www.wikipedia.org.