War,Drama,Romance
United States of America
Eddie Birdlace, played by River Phoenix, and his fellow marines are about to leave for Vietnam, but before they do, they plan a night of debauchery in San Francisco. They come up with the idea of a "dogfight" - a cruel game in which each marine tries to find the ugliest date possible and the one who brings the ugliest girl wins a prize.
Eddie finds himself unable to find a date for the competition until he meets Rose, played by Lili Taylor. Rose is an awkward and plain waitress, but her kindness and earnestness appeal to Eddie, and he asks her to be his date for the contest.
Over the course of the night, Eddie and Rose form a bond, with Eddie realizing that there is more to a person than just their appearance. The film explores their growing connection and Eddie's eventual realization of the immorality of the dogfight and the looming horrors of the Vietnam War.
Dogfight is a poignant coming-of-age story that tackles themes of masculinity, love, and social expectations. Directed by Nancy Savoca, the film features standout performances from Phoenix and Taylor, and is regarded as one of the defining films of the early 1990s indie cinema.
