Is Rez Ball on Netflix a true story?

Is Rez Ball on Netflix a true story?

As a passionate admirer of films that delve into the lives and struggles of underdog teams, I must say Netflix has once again hit it out of the park with their latest release, “Rez Ball”. The film’s authentic portrayal of Native American culture and high school basketball is nothing short of captivating.


In the past, Netflix has found success with films about underdog sports teams, such as Hustle and Nyad. Now, they have introduced a new movie that aligns perfectly with this theme: Rez Ball.

The film tells the story of a Native American high school basketball team who lose their star player while competing for the state championship title, and features an ensemble cast of Native stars including Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, and Kiowa Gordon.

But is the film based on a true story? Read on for everything you need to know…

Is Rez Ball on Netflix based on a true story?

To some extent, the movie draws inspiration from the real-life events detailed in the sports book “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation,” authored by New York Times journalist Michael Powell and released in 2019.

The book narrates the account of Chinle High School’s basketball team situated in Northern Arizona throughout an entire season. It provides a summary that describes how Powell delves into the team, town, and culture during this period, experiencing thrilling victories, disheartening defeats, and discussions on lengthy bus journeys across the desert about aspirations to depart from home and the anxiety of remaining there.

Although the movie draws heavily on the true accounts from the book and the culture of high school basketball among Native American communities, it’s essential to note that the storyline presented is a work of fiction crafted by co-writers Sterlin Harjo and Sydney Freeland, with the latter also serving as director.

Is Rez Ball on Netflix a true story?

As a movie aficionado, I’d like to share that instead of centering around Chinle High School, this film takes a new direction, delving into the world of the fictional Chuska Warriors from New Mexico. It’s essential to clarify that the characters portrayed aren’t direct representations of real individuals.

Harjo stated during an interview with Time that he didn’t have to read the book; instead, it was more about sharing a genuine, relatable tale that resonated with both of them as being authentic and true.

“For us it was really trying to build this world from the ground up,” Freeland added.

To sum up, the storyline depicted in Rez Ball isn’t an exact representation of real-life events; however, it draws heavily from the authentic world of Native American high school basketball.

Check out Rez Ball, currently streaming on Netflix! You can join in for as little as £4.99 per month. Additionally, you can catch Netflix on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream as well.

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2024-09-27 17:03