Skirmishes take place on and off the track
Documentary details contentious history of roller derby league
Skirmishes take place on and off the track

Published: July 4, 2008

The bone-jarring hits and blocks on the roller derby track are matched by the ferocious backbiting and infighting that plays out in the intriguing documentary "Hell on Wheels.”

The documentary makes its Oklahoma City premiere at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday in the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's Noble Theater, 415 Couch Drive.

Question-and-answer sessions with the film's Oklahoma-born director, Bob Ray, will follow both screenings.

"Hell on Wheels” follows a group of scrappy Austin, Texas, women who make it their mission to revitalize the rough and risque sport of roller derby. The twisted tale starts in 2000 when "Roller Derby Dan” Policarpo recruits women to start a roller-girl league.

The participants soon deem Policarpo unfit to run a sports organization.

The diverse captains of the four teams — Heather Burdick, April Hermann, Nancy Lynn Haggerty and Anya Jack — take on the task of organizing Bad Girl, Good Woman Productions, a league dedicated to bringing athleticism and attitude to the sport.

From raising money and hashing out rules to training for bouts and dealing with injuries, the women and their teammates slog away for a year to create the first modern-era roller-girl league.

With their sexy costumes, theatrical pseudonyms and hard-hitting play, the bouts immediately draw hundreds of fans and national media attention.

They spark a roller derby revolution, with leagues forming in Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, New York City and many other cities.

But the constant bickering over league leadership threatens to scuttle the fledgling league.

Three of the four co-founders turn the league into a corporation, putting themselves in charge as the "She-E-Os.”

The majority of the players, who have paid dues and bought some of their own equipment, demand a voice in the league's governance.

Eventually, a large group of players breaks off and forms the skater-run Texas Rollergirls. But can Austin support two roller derby leagues?

Ray filmed the documentary on inexpensive digital video and Super 8 film. The results aren't exactly pretty, but the grainy rawness seems to suit the subject matter.

The director captures both the fast-paced, wince-inducing bout action and the contentious power struggles with the same close-up approach and flair for drama. The film presents a seemingly balanced look at the debate.

Even if you're disinterested in roller derby, "Hell on Wheels” offers an attention-grabbing look into human interaction. It proves that no venture — from art to sports to science — can avoid the ugliness of politics.

The film also includes helpful crash courses in the history and rules of roller derby.

The film isn't rated but includes copious bad language, some sexual content and a few stomach-turning shots of roller derby injuries.

— Brandy McDonnell

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