Co-directors Scarlet Moreno and Josh Stifter step into the squared circle with Little Lucha & the Big Deal, a scrappy 1980s-set wrestling tale about two performers clinging to their last shot at glory. Our tale finds us in the old wrestling territories of the 1980s. Women’s wrestler The Big Deal (Moreno) is scheduled for a match, but when her opponent is a no-show over babysitting issues, The Big Deal is cut from the card. When she complains to the promoter, he’s apologetic, but that’s as far as his sympathies lie.
Feeling a bit of sorrow, the promoter gives The Big Deal her only option: to be the valet for a very green, scrawny wrestler called Little Lucha (Josh Stifter). She begrudgingly accepts the offer, and let’s just say they didn’t kill it. Feeling dejected, the two go to a local diner for a late-night meal, and sadly, no one recognizes them. Feeling like they could be a team, Little Lucha pulls out a flyer for a big opportunity with another promotion, but The Big Deal has her reservations and says no. Little Lucha then goes to extreme measures to knock some sense into The Big Deal.
As the night wears on, the pair circle back to the real reason they keep going: the thrill of stepping into the ring and the belief that the next match might finally be the one that sticks. Beneath the harsh diner lights, they recommit to taking another shot at making their wrestling dreams a reality. The two underdogs leave the booth with renewed resolve, stepping back into the world ready to keep swinging at the impossible.
“…a scrappy 1980s-set wrestling tale about two performers clinging to their last shot at glory.”
Little Lucha & the Big Deal is a sweet and simple tale of fulfilling your dreams and never giving up. According to the filmmakers, the short draws on the old indie filmmaking spirit of bruised optimism, busted dreams, and the stubborn refusal to quit—and funnels it through the world of 1980s wrestling. The film’s themes center on the underdog story of pushing against impossible odds, the toll of chasing a dream that never pays out.
The short is the follow-up from Moreno, who brought us Velma over a year ago. She continues her tradition of stories about individuals just on the precipice of “making it,” only to have fallen oh so short. Where Moreno stands out is in the production values of her films. Along with Stifter, the two draw us into the world of 80s territory wrestling and all on that almost non-existent indie budget.
Little Lucha & the Big Deal offers a tribute to everyone stubborn enough to stay in the fight long after the cheers fade away. For Moreno and Stifter, often the real victory is about refusing to tap out.
For more information, visit Little Lucha & the Big Deal on Instagram.
"…offers a tribute to everyone stubborn enough to stay in the fight..."
