Amongst all the films dedicated to sports history, A League of Their Own is one of the more iconic movies. During World War II, as the men of America were off fighting in the war, many jobs were left vacant—including those competing in the country’s favorite pastime. To keep the sports industry up and running and provide entertainment to the citizen’s remaining back home, an all-female baseball league was founded. But the story that played out in the film was just scratching the surface of the truth, as a touching and passionate love story was brewing behind the scenes.
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In the new documentary, A Secret Love, hitting Netflix on April 29th, filmmakers dive into the romance between Pat Henschel and Terry Donahue, two baseball players who fell in love in 1947. Not only did these incredible women make history by participating in a sport determined to alienate them, they also fought through years of prejudice against the lesbian community, keeping their love a secret from even those closest to them. Now as these women speak, follow the life and love they’ve built together over 65 years.
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The documentary explores the dangers of being in a same-sex couple in the past, and the reasons behind Terry and Pat’s secrecy. But the film doesn’t stay bogged down in the negatives—it celebrates the wonderful contributions these women made to sports history and the love that kept them afloat through it all. Above all, A Secret Love is founded on the phenomenal bond and dedication that these women share, and the beautiful love they chose to foster even in a time which wanted nothing more than to prevent it.
For more information and a first-look at the documentary, watch the trailer below.
The new documentary will be released on Wednesday, April 29.
Featured still from "A Secret Love" via Netflix
