Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Footy Chicks (2006)

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clip 'Know where the line is'

Original classification rating: M. This clip chosen to be M

Clip description

Rugby league cheerleader and fan Hayley talks to camera about how she sees footballers as potentially unfaithful partners. Nightclub footage accompanies her story about a woman she knows who found herself in a difficult situation with two footballers. Hayley reflects on the appropriateness of their behaviour. Rugby union devotee Erika speaks to the camera from the back seat of a taxi about the fine line between 'boys being boys’ and taking it 'too far’. The clip ends with her saying that, as a female, you just have to 'know where the line is’.

Curator’s notes

Erika is an extremely confident and self-aware character, as are all the footy chicks in the film. For her, knowing 'where the line is’ is enough to deal with a situation when 'boys being boys’ turns into something more unpleasant. But Hayley’s account of the girl who found herself in an unpleasant situation flies in the face of Erika’s confidence. Hayley’s story reveals that knowing where the line is may not prevent inappropriate behaviour or sexual assault. This clip is a great example of the way that Barry and Perske present differing perspectives from their subjects to highlight the complex interaction of gender relations, sexuality and acceptable behaviour.