By Maria Esteves - November 18, 2008

The 46th New York Film Festival 2008 (NYFF08), presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Closing Night Premiere of THE WRESTLER, directed by Darren Aronofsky was held at the Avery Fisher Hall, Sunday, October 12, 2008, 8:30 PM. A special Q&A with director Darren Aronofsky, producer Scott Franklin, actor Mickey Rourke, and actress Marisa Tomei, moderated by NYFF selection committee chairman, Richard Pena, program director, Film Society of Lincoln Center immediately followed the film. 

THE WRESTLER, is a powerful, riveting, compelling, and passionate film. Set in New Jersey during the 1980s, the story is based on the life of a working class professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) who struggles between love, retirement, reconciliation, and mortality. Randy who falls in love with a single parent aging dancer Cassidy aka Pam (Marisa Tomei) working at a gentlemen's club where he frequently visit, seeks to reconcile with his daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) whom he have not seen in years. Advised by his doctor not to wrestle again after a near fatal heart attack, "The Ram" tempts fate!

THE WRESTLER, directed by Darren Aronofsky | USA | 2008 | Drama | 109 min | released by Fox Searchlight Pictures | co-produced by Wild Bunch; Golden Lion Award winner, 2008 Venice International Film Festival; In Theaters Friday, December 19, 2008.