Documentary
American
1994 · Directed by Steve James · 174 min
Two Black teenagers from inner-city Chicago, both gifted at basketball, are recruited by a largely white suburban high school known for producing stars. Filmed over several years, the documentary follows their families, schools and hopes as the game promises a way out.
Why it matters in cinema history
It showed that a nonfiction film shot on modest means could rival fiction in length, structure and emotional force, and it became a touchstone for the American documentary revival of the 1990s.
Watch with intention
Watch it as a story about institutions and families under pressure, with basketball as the thing everyone is betting on.
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