Thrilled to be co-presenting with Frameline48 this extremely rare 35mm screening of PUMPiNG IRON II: THE WOMEN (1985) complete with the original soundtrack unavailable on vhs.
“PUMPiNG iRON II: THE WOMEN (1985) in 35mm”
June 25, 2024
Pumping Iron II: The Women
7:00 pm
Directed by George Butler
Written by George Butler, Charles Gaines
Cinematography by Dyanna Taylor
Containing Bev Francis, Rachel McLish, Lori Bowen, Carla Dunlap
Nearly forty years before Rose Glass’ LOVE LiES BLEEDiNG there was this brilliant drama-documentary. This little-seen sequel to the film that made Arnold Schwarzenegger a superstar follows a group of four women as they prepare and compete in the 1983 Caesars World Cup in Las Vegas: butch Australian powerlifter (and now out lesbian) Bev Francis, the more traditionally feminine Rachel McLish, former synchronized swimmer Carla Dunlap, and Texan Lori Bowen, who hopes to win so her bodybuilder boyfriend can quit his job as a male stripper.
Beyond simply being a wildly entertaining documentary, PUMPiNG IRON II: THE WOMEN raises fascinating questions about gender, femininity, and society’s expectations of womanhood that feels more relevant now than ever. Come find out in PUMPiNG IRON II: THE WOMEN, the rare sequel that equals the original.