Rez Ball Gives Navajo Teens Their Own Friday Night Lights

As a cinephile with a keen interest in stories that delve into the heart and soul of communities often overlooked, I found myself both captivated and conflicted by Netflix’s latest offering, “Rez Ball.” This sports drama, set against the backdrop of a New Mexico reservation, is undeniably a barn burner, but it’s not just about the games of high-school hoop – it’s about the culture, the struggles, and the resilience of its characters.

For anyone who hits play on the new Netflix sports drama “Rez Ball”, there’s an intense, engaging experience waiting. It’s not about the brief glimpses of high-school basketball games scattered throughout the movie that you might expect. Instead, the real contest is between the unique elements and the familiar ones in this film.

The film is set on a reservation in New Mexico. What football is to the small Texas town of Friday Night Lights, basketball is to this place: Most of the local boys want a spot on the team, the Chuska Warriors, and everyone comes out for the games. The sport offers distraction and maybe some semblance of hope for a struggling community. The star of the team, a lanky, brooding kid named Nataanii (Kusem Goodwind), has recently lost his mother and his sister in a drunk-driving accident. This is an all too common occurrence here, as we gather from various insert shots of roadside memorials.

At the beginning of the movie, a heartbreaking event strikes the Warrior team, leaving them both devastated and struggling to perform. Nataanii’s closest friend, Jimmy (portrayed by Kauchani Bratt), who is often referred to as his Robin by the color commentators, finds himself taking over as captain due to the circumstances. Can these boys find the strength to overcome their sorrow and break their losing streak? Just like the latest Ben Affleck film, The Way Back, Rez Ball is a heartfelt drama that intertwines on-court triumphs with personal recovery.

The foundation for this is the 2019 bestselling nonfiction work titled “Canyon Dreams,” penned by Michael Powell, a columnist for the New York Times. In this compelling narrative, he shadowed a high school basketball team from a Navajo reservation in Arizona throughout an emotionally charged season. While delving into the specifics of rez ball, a more vigorous and fervent variant of basketball played on Southwestern reservations, Powell also shed light on the struggles endured by these players, whose families grappled with issues such as unemployment, domestic abuse, alcohol addiction, and thoughts of suicide. Essentially, it’s a story about basketball, but it also explores the intergenerational trauma experienced by Native Americans.

In this movie called “Rez Ball,” Sydney Freeland, who co-wrote it with Sterlin Harjo from “Reservation Dogs,” weaves together a story inspired by Powell’s original work, depicting various struggles. The film connects Jimmy’s personal turmoil to that of his mother, Gloria (played by Julia Jones), a past basketball star who is hesitant about supporting her son’s basketball aspirations, possibly because she worries they might lead him towards the same path of despair she has experienced. Moreover, the movie delves into Jimmy’s battle with substance abuse and other subplots to portray the harsh realities faced on the reservation.

In simpler terms, the other aspects of the movie are quite typical or common. The coach, portrayed by actress Jessica Matten from “Dark Winds,” used to play in the WNBA and is dealing with a breakup and dissatisfaction about returning to the reservation instead of having a better job at a university. She often uses motivational phrases like “give it your all on the court” or “dig deep.” Will this local hero find peace with her return home? Additionally, Jimmy’s relationship with his co-worker from the burger joint (Zoey Reyes) seems to be a plot point added by the producers. However, there’s a nice touch in how their romance blossoms when she teaches him Navajo.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, “Rez Ball” cleverly navigates the familiar underdog narrative by infusing it with cultural authenticity. The story takes us to the Santa Fe Catholic school where an Indigenous basketball team is determined to reclaim their glory days. They tap into their roots, engaging in traditional sheep-herding exercises and spiritual rituals, which surprisingly, seem to outmaneuver their well-funded rivals. This unique approach, including calls for plays in their native tongue, adds a fresh twist to the game.

In a unique and heartwarming way, it’s striking to witness these young talents from a traditionally underrepresented community triumph on the court. However, one might have hoped that the movie, Rez Ball, would deviate slightly from the well-trodden path of inspirational sports films. Instead, it seems to adhere closely to the formula, condensing an entire season into a series of polished montages set to uplifting music by indie electronic artist Dan Deacon, who also scored another Netflix basketball drama, Hustle. The plot includes a rematch with the arrogant suburban team that defeated them earlier, which feels like a predictable crowd-pleaser. Yet, it’s not a one-sided affair; the film’s distinctive aspects keep the outcome in doubt.

2024-09-27 23:53

Rez Ball Gives Navajo Teens Their Own Friday Night Lights

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