Netflix movie ‘Les Ball’
Editor’s note
※ What should I watch for the abundance of OTT content? We live in an age where the term ‘Netflix Syndrome’ has arisen, where people waste time choosing what to watch. Rajegi Hankook Ilbo film reporter introduces two OTT contents that you can spend the weekend with every Saturday morning.
‘Les Ball’ centers on a high school basketball team in Chuska, a Native American reservation in New Mexico, USA. Provided by Netflix
Watch directly on Netflix | 15 years or older
Jimmy (Kauchani Bratt) is a high school student. He has an outstanding talent for basketball and is active on the court. His heart should be swelled with hopes of going to college and becoming a professional athlete, but he is immersed in sadness and despair. He suffered from the limitations and constraints of being a Native American, and even lost his best friend and much more skilled teammate, Nataani (Kusem Goodwind).
①Life of indigenous people in protected areas
‘Les Ball’ is not only a sports film, but also a deeply social film that looks into the unfortunate reality of Native Americans. Provided by Netflix
Jimmy lives in Chuska, a Native American reservation in New Mexico, USA. The high school basketball team he belongs to is the Chuska Warriors. As its name suggests, it is classified as a strong team in the region. However, when Nataani dies unexpectedly, the team’s performance plummets. The dream of winning the New Mexico state title seems far and distant. Coach Heather (Jessica Matten) tries to restore the team’s strength with Jimmy at the center, but it is not an easy task.
The biggest obstacle is a sense of defeat and helplessness. These are the emotions that led to Nataani’s death. Not just the team members. The entire Navajo community is buried in negative words such as unemployment and suicide.
②An escape called basketball
The players of the Chuska Warriors, a basketball team that was in a state of self-destruction, begin to unite by learning Navajo traditions. Provided by Netflix
Just looking at Jimmy’s family situation, it is difficult to find the word hope. Jimmy’s mother, Gloria (Julia Jones), was a famous basketball player during her school days. His skills were so outstanding that he went to college on a full scholarship. She showed more outstanding performance in high school than Heather, who rose to fame on the women’s professional basketball court. However, Gloria lives a drunken life with no tomorrow. Even though we have basketball as a common denominator, there is no way I can get along well with my son.
In an environment where there is no opportunity for a rebound, basketball is ultimately Jimmy’s light in life. The same goes for the Navajo people. The movie depicts the process of the Chuska Warriors regaining their fighting spirit thanks to the tempering of the header in a rhythmic and fast-paced plot.
③Another America that was hard to see
‘Rez Ball’ deals with the life of the Navajo people, a story we rarely see through video. Provided by Netflix
The main attraction is basketball. Heather tries to overcome the crisis and boost the team’s strength in a way unique to the Navajo people. Players communicate in Navajo on the court and attack the opposing team with fast breaks. Just like the generation of my great-grandfather who contributed to victory in World War II. The scene where the players score with their quick movements and collaboration gives a sense of pleasure, while the threat of defeat causes sadness. As with most successful sports movies, the underdog’s rebellion is heart-pounding.
There is no particular twist. Although the plot that combines the joy of victory with family love is typical, it contains aspects that cannot be seen in other sports movies. The point is that Native Americans occupy the center of the screen. The movie doesn’t just focus on the basketball court, but also looks at the current state of the Navajo people. The reality of indigenous people suffering from unemployment and often taking their own lives in protected areas with no future penetrates the screen. We can take a look at a different side of America that we rarely see.
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It was inspired by the non-fiction book ‘Dreams of the Canyon: Navajo Nation Basketball Season’ by Michael Powell, a reporter for the New York Times. Most of the actors and director Sidney Freeland are of Native American descent. The Chuska Warriors are a fictional team modeled after the Chineul High School Wildcats team in Arizona. The ‘Rez’ in ‘Rez Ball’ means Reservation. ‘Rez Ball’ refers to a basketball technique used by indigenous people on the reserve. It was first released at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival last September. It is interesting that NBA star LeBron James participated in the production.
***Rotten Tomatoes Freshness Index: 94% from critics, 82% from viewers
***Hankook Ilbo recommended index: ★★★☆ (★ out of 5, ☆ out of 5)
Rajegi film journalist [email protected]
