Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton – Battle Of The Sexes

PODCAST | Chiara Nicoletti interviews Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, directors of the film Battle Of The Sexes, distributed in Italian cinemas from October 19th.

The Battle Of The Sexes is not only something that still goes on today in our society, it is also the name of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs and the third film by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris that stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell as King and Riggs. On the occasion of the Italian release of the film, FRED meets the directors who start describing their journey working on this film from the very beginning: the real battle of the sexes that was going on between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. They admit they thought the film could be perfect to be screened at the White House to celebrate Clinton’s presidency and how far women had gone and how much they have earned in society from 1973 on. As we all know things went differently and Battle Of The Sexes is a way to discuss how much women still have to fight to get equal treatment in society and at work.

Battle Of The Sexes: In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the Battle Of The Sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.

For the official website of the film, click here.

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