Drama
United States of America
First Match is a 2018 American drama film directed by Olivia Newman. The movie follows a teenage girl named Monique who has been in foster care for most of her life. Monique is struggling to connect with her family and find a place to belong.
When she learns that her estranged father (who is now a ex-con wrestler) wants to get back into her life, Monique decides to join the wrestling team at her high school as a way to reconnect with him and impress him with her toughness. However, the team is all male, and Monique finds herself facing off against some of the toughest opponents in the school.
As Monique navigates the challenges of wrestling and the ups and downs of her relationship with her father, she begins to come into her own and find the strength and resilience she needs to face the world on her own terms.
The film stars Elvire Emanuelle as Monique, as well as Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo, Jharrel Jerome, and Jared Kemp in supporting roles. It premiered at the 2018 South by Southwest Film Festival and was released on Netflix later that same year.
