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Furious

In 1978, a club was formed by five players with the desire to bring an unfamiliar game to the nation’s capital. The club quickly developed into a highly competitive team and over the years, other skilled and dedicated athletes have replaced the now-retired initial members. Now, over 40 years later, this team continues to foster a legacy of competition, camaraderie, and commitment.

Rugby is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. and the second most popular sport in the world, but in the United States, women’s rugby teams have historically faced a double-edged sword: showcasing women and queer athletes in a society that doesn’t value their athletics and playing the game of rugby in a country that prioritizes other mainstream sports. Here, playing football, basketball, or baseball on the right stage can get you recognition and millions of dollars. But for many rugby athletes, the love of the game is what keeps them motivated, and the communities they build is what keeps them around.
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Furious is a feature-length documentary directed by Liz Linstrom, a current Furies player, and documentary filmmaker. The film explores the history of the D.C. Furies, a former WPL and current Division I club rugby team with an outstanding history. The club formed by women for women and genderqueer athletes alike was set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the largest women's rugby tournaments in the US. We will hear from veteran and lifetime Furies about the hardships they faced in its founding, current Furies as they battle in Division I rugby, and club rugby players from other teams who are coping with the impact of cancellations due to COVID-19 and USA Rugby's recent institutional changes.

This documentary hopes to shine a light on the powerful people who put their bodies on the line for the love of the game and work tirelessly to continue the legacy that was started by players before them. As we look closer, we’ll find individuals must hold down families and careers in addition to playing and growing the game, and notice that players spread themselves thin so they can build something long-lasting and strong, together.
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Furious is scheduled to be completed in September 2021.

  • Liz Linstrom
    Director
  • Liz Linstrom
    Producer
  • Tony Kosack
    Colorist
  • Jake Weston
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    sports, drama, historical, interview, women, lgbtq, feminism
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 17 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 8, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 1080
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Liz Linstrom

Liz Linstrom is a filmmaker in Washington, D.C. Most recently, she was an Associate Producer on a documentary entitled My America (2019) and a Production Associate for Scattering CJ (2019). She has directed and produced several short films including The Bruises We’re Proud Of (2016) and Hello, My
Name Is (2015).

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Director Statement

What started out as a small passion project about the history of my rugby club developed into a larger film that touches on the incredible strength of women, the perseverance of athletes, and the real obstacles everyday people are facing during closures due to COVID-19. Even though COVID has only affected athletes in the last year, this film has been three years in the making. Every day, I'm uncovering more and more of the incredible history of women's rugby in the United States and abroad.

I welcome all ruggers and supporters of rugby with open arms to celebrate the legacy of this club and help spread the love for rugby to other athletes you think may be touched by this story.