“The Herricanes” Is a Win
Written by: Robin C. Farrell | October 24th, 2024
The Herricanes (Olivia Kuan, 2023) 4½ out of 5 stars
The Herricanes is an enthralling blend of history, sports drama, and rallying cry. Just as director Olivia Kuan (Catfish Killer) asks current-day female football players, so I ask you: “Did you know there was a women’s football league in the 1970s?” If not, this film is a thrilling introduction to, and exploration of, the history of the female league, made up such teams as the Toledo Troopers, Dallas Shamrocks, San Antonio Flames, Tulsa Babes, Oklahoma City Dolls, and the titular Huston Herricanes.
These women tell their stories; how they struggled to get started, find the funds to pay for their gear, push through the early growing pains, find the right coaches, develop their skills, and keep going from season to season, even while game attendance was minimal, at best. The Herricanes were not the best team and they admit as much in their interviews. The film uses familiar techniques: it’s interview-driven, archival footage is often interspersed alongside dramatic reenactments, and there is b-roll revisiting significant locations in Houston. Delightful footage of toy players, coaches, and spectators, arranged on a toy field lit and staged to match the atmosphere depicted in the memories, adds a playful note that fully draws you in. These women played because they loved the sport, despite all the odds. That enthusiasm shows, across all points in time.
The Herricanes impeccably balances the broad strokes of the encompassing world of athletics and women therein, including the current-day women’s pro football team, Huston Energy, while also delving into the lives of the Herricanes players. We get to know them as individuals, their strengths and journeys in football, and how they overcame obstacles of all kinds. Football has been life-saving and life-affirming for many of them. The systemic approach and accessibility to football are examined as well: how the sport is—and is not—incorporated in kids’ and teenagers’ lives, how drastically that varies between boys and girls, the ongoing efforts to change that, and what this means for all gender non-conforming people in the future.
For her theatrical feature debut, Kuan has masterfully created something specific and accessible. The spirit of camaraderie, finding community, and discovering a sense of self are all things so many of us can relate to. This film is a rousing good time; it’s deeply emotional, it invites awe, and it is a firm call to action to keep pushing boundaries. Even if you don’t have a particular interest in football or sports, in general, this film will make you lean in, pay attention, and enjoy yourself immensely. The Herricanes is not one to miss.