Documentary of the Day – Hoop Dreams

This is the portrait of the American Life.  I have never really seen a film that explores the complex issues of life through the story of basketball.  Hoops Dreams is one those films that catch you off guard when you first watch it.  I went in expecting to watch a documentary about two high school kids, competing and hoping for the chance to chase their dream of being drafted into the NBA.  It’s an underdog story with a goal at the end, but the film ended up being something more than a sports film.  How often can you say that a sports film expertly captured the nuances of American life, exploring complex issues like race, poverty, class, and education.

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