School of the Art Institute professor Ruth Leitman’s “Lipstick & Dynamite” began its theatrical run Friday, March 25 on four screens in New York. The doc will have its Los Angeles premiere on three screens April 8, and will open nationally and locally later this spring.
“Lipstick” focuses on six of the First Ladies of Wrestling, who pioneered women’s wrestling on the carnival circuit after World War II.
“These young teen girls were out on their own on the road trying to get out of these difficult home lives, and their bodies and their athletic strength were their way out,” Leitman said. “They don’t really view themselves as having pioneered the world of feminism, but I feel like they did.”
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| The Fabulous Moolah in “Lipstick & Dynamite” |
The doc has garnered wide national attention during its extensive festival run, where several of the Ladies have made appearances with Leitman. Variety and The New York Times gave the pic positive reviews, and the Ladies have been guests on “The Tonight Show” and “Conan O’Brien.”
Koch Lorber Films (Lars Von Trier’s “The Five Obstructions”) picked up “Lipstick & Dynamite” for all rights excluding premium cable, after the doc’s Tribeca premiere last year.
The film went on to win the doc prize at Nantucket, and to screen at Chicago, Atlanta, South by Southwest, Cleveland and other festivals.
Leitman is shopping a narrative script about women’s wrestling in the 1950s, “The Pin-Down Girl.” Her docs include “Wildwood, New Jersey” (1994), “Alma” (1997) and “Welcome to Anatevka” (2001).
Leitman will appear with “Lipstick & Dynamite” at the Wisconsin Film Festival, Saturday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Stage Door Theatre, 216 State St., Madison.
She’ll also speak and screen the picture at the SAIC’s Conversations at the Edge series, Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.
