Ride Like a Girl

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Ride Like a Girl
Ridelikeagirlposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Rachel Griffiths
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMartin McGrath
Edited by
Music by David Hirschfelder
Distributed by
Release date
  • 26 September 2019 (2019-09-26)
Running time
118 minutes [1] [2] [3]
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$11.5 million [1]

Ride Like a Girl is a 2019 Australian biographical sports drama film directed by Rachel Griffiths in her feature film directing debut [4] and starring Teresa Palmer and Sam Neill. It is based on the true story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015. [5] [6] [7]

Contents

The film is book-ended with documentary footage, which shows at the start Payne as a small girl saying she wants to win the Melbourne Cup and at the end, as a young woman, winning the 'race that stops a nation'. In her memorable victory speech, which was televised live across Australia, she told all the people along the way who had said she could not do it, to “get stuffed”. Griffiths watched the speech at a Cup day barbecue and was inspired to make the film. [8]

Plot

Teresa Palmer plays Michelle Payne, the youngest of ten children of racehorse trainer Paddy Payne, who dreams of becoming a jockey and becomes the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015. [9] [10]

Cast

Release

Ride Like a Girl was released in Australia on 26 September 2019, [2] and was distributed worldwide by Paramount Home Video on 10 March 2020. [1]

Reception

67% of the 36 reviews compiled on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Ride Like a Girl is far from the subtlest inspirational drama, but its fact-based story and charming cast are just enough to guide it down the stretch." [3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 47 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [11]

Accolades

AwardCategorySubjectResultRef
AACTA Awards
(9th)
Best Film Richard Keddie Nominated [12]
Rachel Griffiths Nominated
Susie MontagueNominated
Best Actress Teresa Palmer Nominated
Best Original Music Score David Hirschfelder Nominated

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ride Like a Girl (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Ride Like a Girl (2019)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Ride Like a Girl (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  4. Krauth, Kirsten (13 September 2019). "Rachel Griffiths on her muse Michelle Payne: 'She told the world to get stuffed'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  5. "Ride Like A Girl". Transmission Films. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  6. "Rachel Griffiths directs like a natural on 'Ride Like a Girl'". SBS Movies. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  7. "Michelle Payne's Melbourne Cup success retold in 'Ride Like a Girl'". 7NEWS.com.au. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  8. Krauth, Kirsten (13 September 2019). "'She told the world to get stuffed': Rachel Griffiths on the power of Michelle Payne". theguardian. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  9. "Melbourne Cup: Michelle Payne lauds 'incredible' Prince Of Penzance after historic win". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 November 2015.
  10. Thomas, Ray (3 November 2015). "Melbourne Cup 2015: Michelle Payne scores historic win on $101 outsider Prince Of Penzance". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  11. "Ride Like a Girl Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  12. "Winners & Nominees". AACTA. Retrieved 16 March 2020.