Sports is supposed to be the ultimate level playing field, but in the media and on Madison Avenue, sometimes looks matter more than accomplishments. This film explores the double standard placed on female athletes to be the best players on the field and the sexiest off of it. Through stories of the women who have faced and tackled this question including Mary Lou Retton, Chris Evert, Lolo Jones, and Gabby Reece, "Branded" explores the question: can women's sports ever gain an equal footing with their male counterparts or will sex appeal always override achievement?
Direction
Grady and Ewing nail the uncomfortable questions others avoid.
Writing
Sharp interviews that let athletes speak their frustrating truth.
Director
Rachel Grady
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This dropped pre-#MeToo and pre-NIL deals—watching now feels like a time capsule of battles still being fought.
Directors Grady and Ewing also made 'Jesus Camp' and 'Detropia'—they specialize in American institutions that fail people.
US
