Rez Ball

{{Infobox film

| name = Rez Ball

| image = Rez_Ball_film_poster.jpg

| caption = Release poster

| director = Sydney Freeland

| producer = {{Plainlist|

LeBron James
Maurício Mota
Katie Elmore Mota
Spencer Beighley
Jamal Henderson
Nancy Utley

}}

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

Sydney Freeland
Sterlin Harjo

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|Canyon Dreams|Michael Powell}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Dan Deacon

| cinematography = Kira Kelly

| editing = Jessica Baclesse

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Netflix

| released = {{film date|2024|9|8|TIFF|2024|9|27|United States}}

| runtime = 111 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

}}

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 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.{{Cite web|url=https://eu.daily-times.com/story/news/local/2022/03/03/navajo-nation-basketball-netflix-movie-rez-ball-draws-lebron-james-production-company/9337280002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303132300/https://eu.daily-times.com/story/news/local/2022/03/03/navajo-nation-basketball-netflix-movie-rez-ball-draws-lebron-james-production-company/9337280002/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2022|title=Film based on book about high school hoops on Navajo Nation will be shot in New Mexico|accessdate=April 18, 2023|first=Mike|last=Easterling|website=Farmington Daily Times}}{{Cite web|title=Everything You Need to Know About 'Rez Ball'|first=John|last=DiLillo|date=April 17, 2023|accessdate=April 18, 2023|url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/rez-ball-plot-cast-release-date|website=Netflix.com}}

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

Plot

For the first time in years, the Chuska Warriors, a Navajo reservation Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, starts the season with a good chance to compete for the state championship title. The team's former captain Nataanii Jackson, after taking his junior school year off due to his mother and sister's passing, has returned. Jimmy Holiday covered the position in his absence. Coach Heather Hobbs, once the reservation's pride and joy for her playing, must do well this year or lose her job.

The Warriors win their first game, but a reporter mentions Nataanii's mother and sister's deaths to him, which causes him to have dark thoughts. When Nataanii fails to show to their big match against major rivals the Santa Fe Coyotes, the team loses by a landslide. Afterwards, the Warriors are informed that he killed himself, so the team must contend with losing their star player.

Jimmy takes Nataaii's death particularly hard, as he was his lifelong close friend and had seen him in a dark mood the night before but had not realised he was suicidal. His mother Gloria is little comfort to him, chalking his death up to being the Natives' fate to lose.

Heather recruits her high school basketball coach Benny to assist her, as he had helped her senior team with Gloria to win the state championship in their day. Gloria goes to Nataanii's father Ronald when she sees he needs a cleaner at his garage. When she explains she can only work on the rez' due to multiple DUIs he gives her the job, suggesting she come along to AA meetings.

Coach Hobbs introduces Benny Begay to the team as her assistant coach, underlining he had gotten them two state championships in her time. He insists they go back to more traditional ways, so introduces smudging to start. They are put in a scrimmage with Chuska's girls team, who they play a running game with and the boys lose.

The team continues having difficulties with coming together, losing nine in a row. There is talk of people wanting Coach Hobbs off the team. Gloria showers more negativity on Jimmy, insisting the higher one rises, the harder they fall. She tells him she does not go to the matches to not see him lose.

The team is taken by bus for a team-building exercise. They are tasked with working together to recover a herd of sheep. At first, although they find them, working individually does not work. So, Jimmy came up with a plan, they split into two organised groups and shepherd them into their corral.

Jimmy gets inspired, suggesting they communicate their plays in Navajo. He first gets Krista, his manager at work, to teach him a little as he never learned it. The team studies their newly-labeled plays on the bus to the next game, and they start a winning streak. After a 14-day streak, Chuska loses the district title, but still goes on to the state championship.

Chuska is able to win their first three matches, making it to the final against the undefeated Santa Fe. They soon learn their rivals have learned Navajo, so cannot use their language to advantage. The Warriors catch their breath, then keep right on top of the Coyotes until the last few minutes. Santa Fe's team captain fouls Jimmy on a last second shot. Jimmy is given three free throws, hitting two of them to win the championship.

Jimmy gets Krista as well as a dozen college offers. Coach Hobbs also gets a few job offers, but decides to stay on one more year. Gloria finally comes clean, facing up to her past ways and finally encourages her son.

Cast

Hunter Redhorse Arthur (Diné) as Kobe Nezv
Ryan Begay (Diné) as Ronald Jackson
Kauchani Bratt (Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan/Quechua){{cite news |last1=Zain |first1=Haneen |title=UC Santa Cruz alumnus Kauchani Bratt stars in Netflix film 'Rez Ball' |url=https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/uc-santa-cruz-alumnus-kauchani-bratt-stars-netflix-film-rez-ball |access-date=13 March 2025 |work=University of California–Santa Cruz |date=3 October 2024}} as Jimmy Holiday
Damian Henry Castellane (Puyallup{{cite news |last1=Kalliber |first1=Kim |title=From Rez Rat to Rez Ball |url=https://www.tulalipnews.com/tag/damien-henry-castellane/ |access-date=13 March 2025 |work=Tulalip News |date=23 October 2024}}) as Ruckus Largo

Dallas Goldtooth (Mdewakanton Dakota/Diné{{cite web|title=Dallas Goldtooth |url= https://www.theguardian.com/profile/dallas-goldtooth |website=The Guardian|access-date=13 March 2025}}) as Henry Tso
Kusem Goodwind (Coeur d’Alene/Nez Perce)as Nataanii Jackson
Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai{{cite news |title='Dark Winds' returns for expanded third season |url=https://indianz.com/News/2024/11/01/dark-winds-returns-for-expanded-third-season/ |access-date=13 March 2025 |work=Indianz.com |date=1 November 2024}}) 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{{cite news |title=Cody Lightning's mockumentary Hey, Viktor! pokes fun at his child star upbringing |url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/q/cody-lightning-s-mockumentary-hey-viktor-pokes-fun-at-his-child-star-upbringing-1.7143586 |access-date=13 March 2025 |work=CBC |date=15 March 2024}}) as Micah Tso
Jessica Matten as Heather Hobbs
Amber Midthunder (Fort Peck Nakoda/Lakota/Dakota{{cite news |last1=Wittenberg |first1=Alexandra |title=From 'Prey' to 'Rez Ball': Amber Midthunder's journey as a leading Indigenous actress |url=https://www.nhonews.com/features/from-prey-to-rez-ball-amber-midthunder-s-journey-as-a-leading-indigenous-actress/article_dc33ee84-958c-11ef-9f34-bb25be8a2014.html |access-date=13 March 2025 |work=Navajo-Hopi Observer |date=24 October 2024}}) as Dezbah Weaver
Zoey Reyes as Krista
Jaren K. Robledo (Diné{{cite web |last1=Wittenberg |first1=Alexandra |title=Meet the Diné cast of "Rez Ball" |url=https://www.nhonews.com/features/meet-the-din-cast-of-rez-ball/article_7c140d02-920a-11ef-9aa1-43db3f030c00.html |website=Navajo-Hopi Observer |access-date=13 March 2025 |date=11 November 2024}}) as Levi Silversmith
Devin Sampson-Craig (Pyramid Lake Paiute{{cite web |title=Devin Sampson |url=https://artisttrust.org/artists/devin-sampson/ |website=Artist Trust |access-date=13 March 2025}}) as Bryson Badonie
River Rayne Thomas (Saulteaux) as Tyson Yazzie
Ernest Tsosie III (Diné) as Benny Begay
Henry Wilson Jr. (Diné) 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.{{Cite web|date=August 5, 2021|title=Sydney Freeland to Direct Native American Basketball Film 'Rez Ball' for Netflix|first=Angelique|last=Jackson|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/native-american-basketball-rez-ball-netflix-1235035190|website=Variety|access-date=April 17, 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lebron-james-netflix-native-american-basketball-rez-ball-1234993315|website=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=April 18, 2023|title= 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|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|date=August 5, 2021}} Former Searchlight chair Nancy Utley also produced via her Lake Ellyn Entertainment production house.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/rez-ball-review-1236140402/ | title='Rez Ball' Review: Sydney Freeland's Brisk Basketball Drama Takes a Fast Break from Tradition | date=September 11, 2024 }}

=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.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/rez-ball-movie-cast-set-by-netflix-sydney-freeland-1235328460|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417180903/https://deadline.com/2023/04/rez-ball-movie-cast-set-by-netflix-sydney-freeland-1235328460/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=April 18, 2023|title=Rez Ball': Netflix Sets Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon & More For Sydney Freeland's Native American Basketball Underdog Pic|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=April 17, 2023}}

Release

Rez Ball premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024,{{cite web |url=https://tiff.net/events/rez-ball |title=Rez Ball |website=Toronto International Film Festival |access-date=August 18, 2024}}{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Kay |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/toronto-world-premieres-to-include-nightbitch-elton-john-doc-the-wild-robot/5194619.article |title=Toronto film festival world premieres to include 'Nightbitch', Elton John doc, 'The Wild Robot' |website=Screen Daily |date=June 18, 2024 |access-date=June 19, 2024}} and was released on Netflix on September 27, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/1820719-rez-ball-trailer-netflix|website=ComingSoon|accessdate=August 6, 2024|title=Rez Ball Trailer Previews Netflix Basketball Drama Movie|first=Anthony|last=Nash|date=August 6, 2024}}

Reception

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|94|7.0|32|consensus=Putting an Indigenous spin on the classic sports movie formula, Rez Ball dominates the court with its authentic feel for culture and setting.|access-date=October 21, 2024|ref=y}} {{Metacritic film prose|69|10|ref=yes|access-date=September 27, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rez-ball/|title=Rez Ball|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom, Inc.|access-date=2024-09-27}}