Could there be any more different Maine towns than Rumford and Cape Elizabeth? Rumford is a working class town in the western mountains, where the paper mill is one of the region’s primary employers. Cape Elizabeth is an affluent Portland suburb, nestled in the lap of the sea and of luxury. But when Cape Elizabeth, which had had no tradition of high school football at all, starts a team and finds a coach who turns it from a doormat to an undefeated championship contender in just a few years, a rivalry is born with perennial powerhouse Rumford, a rivalry whose roots go far beyond what happens between the goal posts. The two football teams and their charismatic coaches, find themselves, as if in a story book script, heading towards undefeated seasons—with only the other standing in the way. The Rivals is a hugely entertaining, remarkably perceptive and yes, downright nail-biting true story. It's not just a film about Maine; it's a film virtually entirely by people who currently live in the State. Every camera person, sound person, and PA who worked the shoots is from Maine. The editing team is comprised of Mainers. The music, with the exception of one song, is done by musicians from Maine. Several bands and musicians contributed existing pieces or composed music for the film for nothing or next to nothing. The sound design and mixing was done in Portland. This is a 99% Made in Maine film. None of that would be as important as it is if The Rivals weren’t simply a terrific film, no matter what its origin.

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