Director Sydney Freeland’s fact-based drama about Native American high school basketball players premieres this weekend on the streamer.
Rez Ball is a terrific movie. But don’t just take our word for it.
The uplifting fact-based drama, now available on Netflix, has drawn high praise from critics throughout the country, and as of this writing boasts a 95 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Jourdain Searles of IndieWire raved: “Sydney Freeland’s Rez Ball is the perfect crowd-pleaser, blending drama, comedy and the excitement of competitive basketball into a slick and heartfelt package. Ten years after her Sundance debut Drunktown’s Finest, the writer-director returns to her roots with this inspiring story of a Native high school basketball team trying to make it all the way to the championship. Like her first film, Rez Ball takes place on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, where opportunities are scarce and morale is low. Freeland and co-writer Sterlin Harjo deftly blend the often difficult truths of life on the reservation with an optimistic tone rooted in the continued resilience of the Navajo people.”
Vincent Schilling of Native Viewpoint agreed: “I cheered at the great shots, booed at the unfair fouls and laughed at all of the inside jokes that didn’t have to be hidden anymore. I loved this movie. I loved the interactions between players on the court, the family interactions throughout the film, the comedic moments, and the heartfelt moments… Here I was, a Native American critic, watching in the dark, tears running down my face, as young Native actors portrayed thoughtful, meaningful and non-stereotypical characters on screen. A Native American director who hails from the Navajo Nation? It was mind-blowing and incredible that Freeland could work on a Netflix film in the same places she experienced as a child.”
And Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck noted that, even movie might have its predictable stretches, “that doesn’t mean your heart won’t be caught up in this deeply felt, poignantly told story from Navajo country, especially when the last player takes that last shot in those final seconds — never mind some heavy-handed moments. And it bears mentioning that the basketball pedigree is unimpeachable here, with none other than LeBron James.”
What’s it all about? According to Netflix: “In the heart of Chuska, New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage, face their greatest challenge. After the loss of their star player, the team must unite like never before to keep their dreams of a state championship alive. This is more than just a game; it’s a journey of resilience and unity, a true underdog story deeply rooted in Native American culture.”
Inspired by Michael Powell’s critically acclaimed nonfiction book Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation, Rez Ball stars Jessica Matten of Dark Winds as Heather Hobbs, the demanding but empathetic coach of the Chuska Warriors, and newcomer Kauchani Bratt as Jimmy Holiday, a key Warrior player who must shoulder the responsibly of being the new team leader.
Both actors recently joined us in the C&I studio to talk about Rez Ball.
Photography: Lewis Jacobs/Netflix
