A 35 year-old New York artist, director Jeremy Spear longs for the athletic days of his college years. He finds the solution in joining a fastpitch softball league in Ashland, Ohio and the result is this spirited, humorous, human documentary about a once-mighty sport which is now only followed by diehard fans. Over the course of the turbulent 1996 season Spear's camera captures the adventures of his Ohio teammates as they make their way to the finals in Wisconsin and face millionaire manager Peter Porcelli and his flashy Tampa Smokers team. A good portion of the film is devoted to Shane Hunuhunu, a goodhearted and charismatic Maori fastpitch superstar who travels from New Zealand to the U.S. each year to play the game he loves. Also among the interesting characters the camera encounters are Canadian Indian Darren Zack, the game's best player, and the North Americans, a team made up of Native Americans who pride themselves on being drug and alcohol free. Spear's witty narration does a fine job of tying together what was undoubtedly many hours of footage into an entertaining, evenly-paced look at a little-known offshoot of America's pastime and the smalltown fans who keep the game alive.

Jeremy Spear, director of FASTPITCH, joins an Ohio-based Fastpitch softball team, determined to help bring it to the World Championships. In the process, he makes this documentary that is mostly about the dying sport, and also about America's diverse melting pot of people--even within the niche of professional Fastpitch softball.

IN THEATRES: AUGUST 25, 2000 (NY)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers - 1. Docurama Previews
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Text/ Photo Galleries:
Text - 1. THE ORIGINS OF FASTPITCH SOFTBALL

Jeremy Spear: FASTPITCH

Fred Kaufman: 
Jeremy Spear: FASTPITCH

"...A valentine to fastpitch softball....FASTPITCH is a fine film..."
"...Spear has a knack for extracting honest moments from his subjects....Spear is a good filmmaker, using quick cuts and moody lighting for effect..."