Heart Like a Wheel

Shirley Muldowney has worked on cars since she was a child. She wants to race drag cars, but nobody will give her a licence; no woman has raced in the fastest class before. She opens the way by insisting and getting permission one step at a time. The more she wins, the greater both the danger and the distance at home. Racing separates her from everything. Jonathan Kaplan's film rests on a real life: Muldowney was the first woman licensed by the national association in the fastest class and won more than one championship. Bonnie Bedelia plays her and was nominated for a Golden Globe for it; Beau Bridges plays her racing partner. The film was nominated for an Oscar for costume design.