Événement

The Rivals presented by the Phoenix Film Society

The Rivals

Directed by Kirk Wolfinger

The Rivals is a story of 'haves' versus 'have-nots' and two towns in Maine that both resent and respect each other. Rumford is a blue-collar town in the rugged Western mountains, supported by a dying paper mill that is losing jobs almost daily. Cape Elizabeth is a wealthy, coastal paradise for doctors, lawyers, and type-A personalities. Residents of these two towns only meet in one place: the High School Football field. Rumford's team has won 6 conference and 2 state championships in the last 20 years. Cape Elizabeth's team is only three years old, but the town has so much money and drive that they are threatening Rumford's football dynasty. The rivalry is personified in the two coaches: Rumford's legendary Jim Aylward vs. Cape Elizabeth's fiery young Aaron Filieo. For Filieo's Cape kids, the future is bright and the new Astor-turf is always green. Football is one of many distractions in a well-funded school respected for its academic excellence. Filieo must inspire privileged kids to fight for something that doesn't come easily. Aylward wants to give his Rumford kids something to be proud of before they enter the workday grind of life in a struggling mill town. He inspires them with his tough love and messages of hope, focus and respect. This is more than a sports film. Football is the crucible in which life lessons of class and pride and perseverance are learned and fought over...lessons that will last a lifetime.