Rez Ball Explained

Rez Ball
Director:Sydney Freeland
Music:Dan Deacon
Cinematography:Kira Kelly
Editing:Jessica Baclesse
Distributor:Netflix
Runtime:111 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Rez Ball is a 2024 American sports drama film directed by Sydney Freeland, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sterlin Harjo, based on the nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation, by The New York Times journalist Michael Powell. LeBron James served as one of the producers. The film features an ensemble cast, including Kauchani Bratt, Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, and Kiowa Gordon.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024, and was released on Netflix on September 27, 2024.

Synopsis

The Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, are competing for the state championship title but lose their star player.[1] [2]

Cast

Production

Sydney Freeland was announced as director of the project for Netflix in August 2021. Freeland and Sterlin Harjo had written the script inspired by Michael Powell's nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams (2019). The project was produced by Wise Entertainment with Maurício and Katie Mota involved.[3] That same month LeBron James and Maverick Carter were announced to have joined the project as producers via The SpringHill Company with Spencer Beighley and Jamal Henderson executive producers for SpringHill.[4]

Filming

In April 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported that principal photography was underway and taking place in New Mexico with filming on the Navajo Nation, with the permission and support of the local sovereign tribal nations.[5]

Release

Rez Ball premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024,[6] [7] and was released on Netflix on September 27, 2024.[8]

Reception

[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Film based on book about high school hoops on Navajo Nation will be shot in New Mexico. April 18, 2023. Mike. Easterling. Farmington Daily Times.
  2. Web site: Everything You Need to Know About 'Rez Ball'. John. DiLillo. April 17, 2023. April 18, 2023. Netflix.com.
  3. Web site: August 5, 2021. Sydney Freeland to Direct Native American Basketball Film 'Rez Ball' for Netflix. Angelique. Jackson. Variety. April 17, 2023.
  4. Web site: LeBron James to Produce Netflix Native American Basketball Feature 'Rez Ball' Sydney Freeland will direct from a script she wrote with 'Reservation Dogs' creator Sterlin Harjo. Hollywood Reporter. April 18, 2023. Mia. Galuppo. August 5, 2021.
  5. Web site: Rez Ball': Netflix Sets Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon & More For Sydney Freeland's Native American Basketball Underdog Pic. https://web.archive.org/web/20230417180903/https://deadline.com/2023/04/rez-ball-movie-cast-set-by-netflix-sydney-freeland-1235328460/. dead. April 17, 2023. Deadline Hollywood. April 18, 2023. Matt. Grobar. April 17, 2023.
  6. Web site: Rez Ball . . August 18, 2024.
  7. Web site: Jeremy . Kay . Toronto film festival world premieres to include 'Nightbitch', Elton John doc, 'The Wild Robot' . . June 18, 2024 . June 19, 2024.
  8. Web site: Rez Ball Trailer Previews Netflix Basketball Drama Movie. ComingSoon. August 6, 2024. Anthony. Nash. August 6, 2024.
  9. Web site: Rez Ball. Metacritic. Fandom, Inc.. 2024-09-27.

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