Film Summary & Using This Guide

FILM SUMMARY

In the projects of Watts, Meryland Gonzales, a twelve-year-old female boxer trains to be crowned the 2019 Junior Olympics champion after losing at the 2018 competition all while reliving a past medical trauma that forces her to fight for her life. Meanwhile, her parents, immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico work tirelessly to give their miracle child a shot at achieving her dreams

USING THIS GUIDE

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection and designed for people who want to use Team Meryland to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues, and communities. In contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively.

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit communitynetwork.amdoc.org.

LETTER FROM THE FILMMAKER

I made Team Meryland because I truly believe in the power of family and the miracle of second chances. I grew up the youngest of seven kids in a tight-knit Filipino family raised by a single mom. Throughout my own journey, I’ve learned the strength of my siblings, the sacrifices my mom made for us, and our teamwork as a family to get a miraculous second chance. When I met the Gonzalez family and learned of their story, I knew immediately that this was a narrative I needed to champion. It’s a story I wish my family and I had seen when we were looking for hope.

The family’s ability to fight together through hardship spoke to my core. Team Merylandis a portrait of a young girl from Watts, South LA with a second chance to achieve greatness through boxing. Despite suffering from a severe medical trauma, growing up in a tough area of South LA, and being a first generation American, Meryland never gives up on her dreams, truly embodying the image of a “rose emerging from the concrete” as her father so eloquently describes her.

After a year-and-a-half of filming and another year of post-production, it is a privilege that my team and I share this film with you today. Living through the hardships of 2020 and 2021 which have broken many of us, I now realize that this goes beyond a film for my family. It’s a story the world needs to hear. We hope the Gonzalez family shows us how to heal, find joy, and get back in the ring with loved ones in your corner. There isn’t a better time like today to fight for your dreams.

Gabriel Gaurano, Director Cinematographer & Editor, Team Meryland