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, is competing for the state championship title while contending with losing their star player.[1][2]
Cast
- Hunter Redhorse Arthur (Diné[3]) as Kobe Nezv
- Ryan Begay (Diné[3]) as Ronald Jackson
- Kauchani Bratt (Quechua descent/Mestizo)[4] as Jimmy Holiday
- Damian Henry Castellane (Puyallup[5]) as Ruckus Largo
- Dallas Goldtooth (Mdewakanton Dakota/Diné[6]) as Henry Tso
- Kusem Goodwind (Coeur d’Alene/Nez Perce)as Nataanii Jackson
- Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai[7]) as Antonio Freeman
- Sam Griesel as Mason Troy
- Avery Hale (Mandan/Hidatsa/San Carlos Apache/San Felipe Pueblo) as Miles Martinez
- Jojo Jackson (Diné) as Warlance Yazzie
- Julia Jones as Gloria Holiday
- Cody Lightning (Samson Cree Nation[8]) as Micah Tso
- Jessica Matten as Heather Hobbs
- Amber Midthunder (Fort Peck Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota[9]) as Dezbah Weaver
- Zoey Reyes as Krista
- Jaren K. Robledo (Diné[3]) as Levi Silversmith
- Devin Sampson-Craig (Pyramid Lake Paiute[10]) as Bryson Badonie
- River Rayne Thomas (Saulteaux) as Tyson Yazzie
- Ernest Tsosie III (Diné[3]) as Benny Begay
- Henry Wilson Jr. (Diné[3]) as Leland Tom
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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13]
Release
Rez Ball premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024,[14][15] and was released on Netflix on September 27, 2024.[16]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 32 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0/10. The website's consensus reads: "Putting an Indigenous spin on the classic sports movie formula, Rez Ball dominates the court with its authentic feel for culture and setting."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]
References
- ^ Easterling, Mike. "Film based on book about high school hoops on Navajo Nation will be shot in New Mexico". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ DiLillo, John (April 17, 2023). "Everything You Need to Know About 'Rez Ball'". Netflix.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Wittenberg, Alexandra (November 11, 2024). "Meet the Diné cast of "Rez Ball"". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ Zain, Haneen (October 3, 2024). "UC Santa Cruz alumnus Kauchani Bratt stars in Netflix film 'Rez Ball'". University of California–Santa Cruz. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ Kalliber, Kim (October 23, 2024). "From Rez Rat to Rez Ball". Tulalip News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "Dallas Goldtooth". The Guardian. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "'Dark Winds' returns for expanded third season". Indianz.com. November 1, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "Cody Lightning's mockumentary Hey, Viktor! pokes fun at his child star upbringing". CBC. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ Wittenberg, Alexandra (October 24, 2024). "From 'Prey' to 'Rez Ball': Amber Midthunder's journey as a leading Indigenous actress". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ "Devin Sampson". Artist Trust. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ Jackson, Angelique (August 5, 2021). "Sydney Freeland to Direct Native American Basketball Film 'Rez Ball' for Netflix". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (August 5, 2021). "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. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (April 17, 2023). "Rez Ball': Netflix Sets Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon & More For Sydney Freeland's Native American Basketball Underdog Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ "Rez Ball". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (June 18, 2024). "Toronto film festival world premieres to include 'Nightbitch', Elton John doc, 'The Wild Robot'". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ Nash, Anthony (August 6, 2024). "Rez Ball Trailer Previews Netflix Basketball Drama Movie". ComingSoon. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ "Rez Ball". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "Rez Ball". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2024.