Directed by Sydney Freeland, Rez Ball is a sports drama based on a non-fiction novel, Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation, by The New York Times journalist Michael Powell. The movie was released on September 27, 2024, on Netflix and has garnered rave reviews.
Starring Kauchani Bratt, Jessica Matten, and others, the movie revolves around a Native American high school basketball team, The Chuska Warriors, from Chuska, New Mexico. Amidst the team’s preparation for competing in the state championships, they lose their main player.
The movie highlights Native American culture and plays on themes like resilience, discipline, and team spirit in the backdrop of sports.
Edge of America, Running Brave, and other movies like Rez Ball
1) Black Cloud - Amazon Video
Directed by Rick Schroder and starring Eddie Spears, Russel Means, Tim McGraw, and others, Black Cloud is a sports drama that revolves around a young Navajo man, Black Cloud (Eddie). Cloud gets into trouble with the town's Sheriff after he fights with his girldfriend's ex-boyfriend. After seeing Cloud fighting in a boxing ring, an Olympic Scout offers him to try out for the US Olympics, but he does not want to fight on behalf of the Whites.
However, he soon realizes that he must overcome his struggles regarding anger and identity, to train himself for the better and not lose the golden chance of boxing at the US Olympics.
The movie is inspirational and revolves around sports and Native American culture, just like Rez Ball.
2) Edge of America - Amazon Prime Video
Starring James McDaniel and directed by Chris Eyer, Edge of America is a sports drama inspired by real-life events. An African-American teacher, Kenny Williams (McDaniel), transfers to an American Indian school in Utah and coaches a girls’ basketball team. While Kenny tries to learn about Native traditions, the girls hesitate to accept authority from a Non-Native person.
The movie is a beautiful portrayal of overcoming cultural differences as both the coach and the girls, overcome their biases. Eyre’s direction makes sure that race is given due importance and not turned into a stereotypical portrayal.
Like Rez Ball, the movie is about sports and explores racial issues.
3) Running Brave - Youtube
Directed by Donald Shebib, Running Brave is a Canadian biographical sports film based on the life of athlete William Mervin Mills, or Billy Mills, a Native American whose real name is Tamakhóčhe Thehíla.
The movie is about Mills’ struggles to make it to the American running team for the Olympics, despite coming from obscurity. In the movie, Robby Benson portrays Mills.
In one of the most thrilling sport moments, Mills sprints from third place to ultimately win the gold medal for the 10,000-meter race at the 1965 Tokyo Olympics. He is still the only American yet to win in this segment.
Like Rez Ball, the movie is a fitting portrayal of the resilient attitude of Native Americans in sports.
4) Crooked Arrows - Amazon Prime Video
Starring Brandon Routh, Crooked Arrows is a sports drama directed by Steve Rash. The movie is about a mixed-blood Native American, Joe Logan (Routh), who wants to modernize his casino. But first, he must coach the reservation’s struggling high school lacrosse team—a condition put forward by his father, a Tribal chairperson.
As Logan fails to connect with the players, he decides to instill a sense of pride in the team towards their cultural heritage and the importance of respecting one’s roots.
Like the Chuska Warriors in Rez Ball, the lacrosse team in Crooked Arrows turn towards their Native American roots to gain confidence.
5) Remember the Titans - Amazon Prime Video
Based on the life of African-American football coach Herman Boone, Remember the Titans, is directed by Boaz Yakin. In the movie, Denzel Washington essays the role of Boone. The plot revolves around Boone’s attempts to racially integrate T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Virginia, which is facing rising racial tensions.
Set in 1971, Boone and his coordinator Bill Yoast (Will Patton) work hard to erase racial divide from the hearts of their team and take them to the state championships.
The movie was an immediate success and like Rez Ball, deals with sports and highlights the importance of community and unity.
6) Indian Horse - Amazon Prime Video
An adaptation of Richard Wagamese’s novel of the same name, Indian Horse, is directed by Stephen S. Campanelli and is a Canadian drama film. The movie is about a young Indigenous Canadian, Saul Indian Horse, who is sent to a private residential school in Ontario and has to endure the merciless teachers.
His love for ice hockey however, helps him get over his personal struggles and provides a voice to his oppression. Like Rez Ball, the movie is about sports and its power to uplift a human out of their troubles. Both movies also shed light on the Indigenous experience.
7) Friday Night Lights - Amazon Video
Directed by Peter Berg, Friday Night Lights, is a sports drama film based on the book, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger. The book in turn is inspired by the real-life story of the 1988 Permian High School panthers football team.
The movie revolves around new coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton), who must bring back the confidence of a football team after their star player gets hurt.
Like Rez Ball, the movie is about a sports team trying to revive itself after losing their main player. In an interview, Rez Ball's director, Sydney Freeland, has said that his movie takes inspiration from Friday Night Lights.