documentary watch: "Tender: Aerin Frankel & Gwyneth Philips" (2026)
dir. Deanna Hong (@deannahongproductions) and Mary Catherine Finney | 38m
"The goaltender is the emotional center of a hockey team – responsible for its survival, protected and cherished in return. "Tender" is a tribute to the care, responsibility, and quiet eccentricity of the goaltending position – exploring a lesser-seen side of some of the fiercest competitors in a brutal sport.
Told through the intertwined careers of Team USA goaltenders Aerin Frankel & Gwyneth Philips, this short documentary highlights the talents, habits, and quirks that make both athletes individually elite at their craft, while allowing their distinct personalities to shine through. It also examines the unique bond between goalie partners – a relationship defined by mutual trust and respect, forged over years as both teammates and opponents.
Now stars on competing pro teams, Frankel & Philips' paths have converged and diverged time and time again: from Northeastern University, where one established herself as a national standard, while the other prepared to rise into her own; to the PWHL, where both have backstopped teams to the brink of a championship – with Frankel earning back-to-back Goalie of the Year nominations, and Philips named Playoff MVP as a rookie; and to Team USA, where their partnership has already been tested on the world stage, and where they now look toward their biggest challenge yet – Milano-Cortina 2026."
