Rez Ball Review: Get ready for a new sports drama on Netflix on September 27. This story is based on a season in the lives of basketball players from a Native American reservation. “Rez Ball” is a fast-paced narrative where an underdog team fights to win the state championship. Directed by Sydney Freeland (Drunktown’s Finest), who co-wrote the script with Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs), and produced by LeBron James, this sports story is one you won’t want to miss.
| Movie | Rez Ball |
| Writer | Sydney Freeland, Sterling Harjo, Michael Powell |
| Director | Sydney Freeland |
| Rating | 6.3/10 (IMDB) |
| Release Date | 27 September, 2024 |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Run Time | 1 hour minutes |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Drama, Sport |
Rez Ball Review
Sydney Freeland’s Rez Ball is a heartwarming mix of entertainment, drama, and competitive basketball. Set on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, it tells the story of a Native high school basketball team striving for a championship. Freeland, along with co-writer Sterlin Harjo, blends the challenges of reservation life with optimism, showcasing the resilience of the Navajo people.
Teamwork shines throughout the film, with standout scenes like the Warriors herding sheep for practice and playing spirited basketball games. A memorable moment features the boys competing against the girls’ team, highlighting both skill and playful rivalry. Rez Ball isn’t just about the boys—it’s about everyone overcoming the odds.
Rez Ball Synopsis
Shot on location in New Mexico with the collaboration of the Navajo Nation government, Rez Ball beautifully captures the land and its people. Based on Michael Powell’s non-fiction novel Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation, the film follows Jimmy Holiday (Couchane Bret), who becomes the captain of his high school basketball team, the Chuska Warriors. After the tragic death of his best friend and teammate, Natani (Kusem Goodwind), Jimmy’s confidence is shaken.
At home, Jimmy struggles with his mother, Gloria (Julia Jones), who battles alcoholism. Meanwhile, his coach Heather (Jessica Matten) believes in his potential, bringing in Bini Begay (Ernest David Tsosie) to help the team embrace their Native roots. When they shift from playing regular basketball to “Rez Ball,” they begin to see a real chance at victory.
Coach Heather and Gloria represent two sides of Jimmy’s world—both were once Warriors in high school and had the chance to go pro, but while Gloria gave up basketball, Heather couldn’t let it go. Caught between their influences, Jimmy has to decide if he’s ready to risk failure or give up. His mother believes that losing is inevitable and that it’s in their blood.
Like many in their community, Natani couldn’t cope with the trauma of losing his sister and mother years ago and took his own life. On the reservation, everyone is dealing with something they’re trying to overcome. Gloria is unable to encourage her son, but instead of portraying her as a villain, Rez Ball shows her as a woman broken by life.
As the games become more intense, the Warriors prepare for a final showdown with their biggest rivals, the team from Santa Fe. They communicate in Navajo to keep their strategy hidden from the opposing team, and by doing so, they reconnect with their culture, reigniting their sense of pride and purpose. Rez Ball becomes more than just a story about winning—it’s a story about giving hope to their community.
Rez Ball Cast
- Kauchani Bratt as Jimmy Holiday
- Jessica Matten as Heather Hobbs
- Devin Sampson-Craig as Bryson Badonie (as Devin Sampson Craig)
- Julia Jones as Gloria Holiday
- Amber Midthunder as Dezbah Weaver
- River Rayne Thomas as Tyson Yazzie
- Jojo Jackson as Warlance Yazzie
- Avery Hale as Miles Martinez
- Hunter Redhorse Arthur as Kobe Nez
- Henry Wilson Jr. as Leland Tom
- Dallas Goldtooth as Henry Tso
- Cody Lightning as Micah Tso
- Jaren K. Robledo as Levi Silversmith
- Zoey Reyes as Krista
- Damian Henry Castellane as Ruckus Largo
- Kusem Goodwind as Nataanii Jackson
- Ernest Tsosie III as Benny Begay
- Ryan Begay as Ronald Jackson
Powerful Performances of Rez Ball
Maintaining a positive and uplifting atmosphere without becoming overly sentimental, Rez Ball retains enough charm and momentum to engage its audience. Jessica Matten delivers a powerful performance as a coach who embodies both kindness and determination. Newcomer Couchane Bret is funny and captivating, with his charisma growing in every scene.
He also features a small love story that complements themes of cultural connection and embracing insecurities. Freeland excels at eliciting genuine and honest performances from her young actors, whose freshness deepens the inspirational emotions highlighted in the film. It’s hard not to feel uplifted while watching these talented youths play both on and off the court. Rez Ball is a film that fosters hope for the future, even if only for the duration of a game.
Conclusion
In the heart of Chuska, New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage, are facing their greatest challenge. After the loss of their star player, the team must come together more than ever to keep their dreams of a state championship alive.
This is not just a game; it is a journey of perseverance and unity, a true underdog story deeply rooted in Native American culture and spirit. “Rez Ball” is inspired by the acclaimed book “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Reservation,” written by Michael Powell, along with articles from The New York Times that laid its foundation.
Freeland said, “For us, this film is an invitation to see a side of America—a community—that not everyone may know. But for me, for these kids, for the cast, for the crew, it’s something we’ve lived and felt our entire lives.”