The Fits

The Fits is a 2015 American drama film directed by Anna Rose Holmer. It is a unique, atmospheric indie gem set in Cincinnati, offering an immersive deep dive into the world of dance teams, while narrating an ethereal coming-of-age tale. The movie boasts compelling performances, particularly from gifted newcomer Royalty Hightower, who plays Toni, the film's 11-year-old protagonist.

The Fits begins by introducing us to Toni, a tomboyish African-American girl who trains rigorously alongside her older brother Jermaine at a community center boxing gym. The gym is divided into two realms: the testosterone-fueled world of the boxing ring inhabited mostly by boys, and the adjacent dance studio, where an all-girls dance team called The Lionesses practices their dynamic routines. They're vivacious and energetic, serving as the stark contrast to the spartan boxing gym where Toni initially spends most of her time.

Toni is drawn to the hypnotic rhythm, the synchronized beauty, the group dynamic, and the feminine strength of The Lionesses. Feeling a pull towards this enticingly different world, she decides to trade her boxing gloves for dance shoes. This is a personal journey for Toni, as she begins to explore her femininity amidst her previously male-dominated surroundings.

However, her transition isn't as smooth as she anticipates. Her tough persona gained from boxing clashes with the fluidity of the dance routines. She struggles to fit in and nail the dance moves, which include everything from energetic stomps to graceful twirls. Despite her diligent efforts, Toni still stands out, failing to blend with the fluid harmony of the dance crew.

The narrative takes a turn when a mysterious illness, termed 'The Fits', begins to strike the girls in the dance team. The Fits manifests as uncontrollable convulsions, fainting, and other unexplained physical symptoms. As one by one the older girls succumb to this inexplicable epidemic, it adds an element of psychological horror to the plot, leaving both the characters in the film and the viewers unnerved and intrigued. The outbreak becomes a metaphor for the collective anxieties and shared experiences that come with girlhood.

Despite the fear and confusion, there's a more complicated underlying dynamic at play. The Fits strangely becomes a perverse sort of rite of passage, corresponding to the team-members' transition into their adolescent years. So while the phenomenon terrifies Toni, it also subtly presents the gateway to the acceptance and camaraderie she has been yearning for.

Throughout all of these otherworldly happenings, Royalty Hightower as Toni delivers a marvelously understated performance, expressing so much through silences and subtleties. She manages to convey Toni's confusion, determination, longing, and fear accurately, making the character's struggle relatable and heartfelt.

Filmmaker Anna Rose Holmer directs with a delicate, sensitive hand, embracing the narrative's uncanny elements and underlining the blossoming bond between the girls. She elegantly straddles the lines between naturalism and surrealism, reality and dreams. The director's unique vision escalates what would have been an ordinary tale into something magical and mysterious, blending the spectacle of the dance performances and the unease of the unexplainable Fits flawlessly.

Holmer and her cinematographer, Paul Yee, beautifully explore the community center's enclosed spaces, making the somewhat drab interiors of the gym and dance studio come alive with vibrant textures and a sense of impending unease. The visual and narrative juxtaposition of the boxing and the dancing world enhances Toni's struggle to adapt and fit in.

The world of The Fits isn't just about dance and the exploration of unknown illnesses. It is also a poignant tale of growing up, of dealing with societal pressures, and that universal struggle for acceptance. It is an engrossing, dream-like voyage into the complexities of adolescence and community, portrayed through the fascinating lens of dance and aetheric mystery. With its hypnotic rhythm and vivid storytelling, The Fits undoubtedly puts a fresh perspective on narrating the transformative journey of coming-of-age.