The Rink
Realizador Sarah Friedland
Países United States
Duração 55 min
Sinopse
Newark, NJ’s Roller Skating Rink is one of the few remaining urban rinks of its kind. At first glance, the exterior resembles a bomb shelter; however, the streamers and lights of the interior tell a different story. This documentary depicts a space cherished by skaters, and a city struggling to move beyond its past and forge a new narrative amidst contemporary social issues. Two characters emerge: Bonesaw, a member of the Garden State Roller Derby Team; and Gralen, a deeply spiritual Gospel Night skater. On the surface, these two characters couldn’t be more different, but the film reveals a shared past of violence and drug abuse from which the rink provides a much needed refuge. The Rink is a tribute to the remaining affordable recreational spaces that are central to life in American cities— places where people can create community and enjoy life.
Newark, NJ’s Roller Skating Rink is one of the few remaining urban rinks of its kind. At first glance, the exterior resembles a bomb shelter; however, the streamers and lights of the interior tell a different story. This documentary depicts a space cherished by skaters, and a city struggling to move beyond its past and forge a new narrative amidst contemporary social issues. Two characters emerge: Bonesaw, a member of the Garden State Roller Derby Team; and Gralen, a deeply spiritual Gospel Night skater. On the surface, these two characters couldn’t be more different, but the film reveals a shared past of violence and drug abuse from which the rink provides a much needed refuge. The Rink is a tribute to the remaining affordable recreational spaces that are central to life in American cities— places where people can create community and enjoy life.