Join us for a film screening and Director's Virtual talk about the documentary "Lift Like a Girl" that is an intimate journey into the inner life of an aspiring athlete.
Virtual Talk with Director, Mayye Zayed
March 23, 2022 12pm CST via Zoom
Register for Zoom event at
https://illinois.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U3ApZDamRZStk9LCWg7gCw
Film Screening "Lift Like a Girl"
March 21, 2022 5pm CST to March 23, 2022 5pm CST
https://vimeo.com/556525816 (password LLAG2021!)
For over 20 years, Captain Ramadan coached world-class weightlifters in Alexandria, Egypt. A larger-than-life character in his own right, Ramadan led his daughter, one of Egypt’s most famous athletes, Nahla Ramadan, to become a world champion, and trained Abeer Abdel Rahman, the first Arab woman to become a two-time Olympic medalist. Mayye Zayed’s observational documentary dives into the training of Ramadan’s new protégé: the determined Zebiba (which means “raisin”), who dreams of lifting on the level of Captain’s past stars.
Shot over four years, starting when Zebiba is 14 years old, Lift Like a Girl is an intimate journey into the inner life of an aspiring athlete. Filmed largely at Ramadan’s outdoor gym and at weightlifting competitions, it captures feats of astonishing athleticism. But it’s not just about muscle mass à la Pumping Iron, as Zayed explores the complex bond between Zebiba and her Captain — a bond that is frequently unpredictable, sometimes volatile, but always rooted in what can only be described as an unshakable faith.