The Wrestler

A powerful portrait of a battered dreamer who, despite the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero in the ring once again.

A powerful portrait of a battered dreamer who, despite the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero in the ring once again.

Robert Siegel discusses writing the screenplay based on Randy 'The Ram' Robinson attempting to build a life outside the wrestling ring.

Join host Tava Smiley on the red carpet with the cast and crew of The Wrestler.

A powerful portrait of a battered dreamer who, despite the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero in the ring once again.

A powerful portrait of a battered dreamer who, despite the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero in the ring once again.

Join host Tava Smiley on the red carpet with the cast and crew of The Wrestler.

Robert Siegel discusses writing the screenplay based on Randy 'The Ram' Robinson attempting to build a life outside the wrestling ring.

Back in the late 80s, Randy The Ram Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. Estranged from his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and unable to sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show and the adoration of his fans. However, a heart attack forces him into retirement. As his sense of identity starts to slip away, he begins to evaluate the state of his life trying to reconnect with his daughter, and striking up a blossoming romance with an exotic dancer (Marisa Tomei) who is ready to start a new life. Yet all this cannot compare to the allure of the ring and passion for his art, which threatens to pull Randy The Ram back into his world of wrestling. Director Darren Aronofsky presents a powerful portrait of a battered dreamer, who despite himself and the odds stacked against him, lives to be a hero once again in the only place he considers home inside the ring. THE WRESTLER had its North American premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and won the Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Film Festival.