Friday, June 24, 2011

Salaam Dunk - LA Film Festival



Just watched a wonderful documentary about women collegiate basketball in Iraq. These young women and their young American coach come off as 3-dimensional human beings. The traditional and social constraints they are pushing against. The transient nature of life in a war-torn country. How sports give them pride, solidarity, escape, and hope.

The director, the coach, and others involved in the movie spoke at the Q&A afterwards. Their strong bond are unmistakable. The young women have asked the director not to exhibit the film in Iraq, and the director stated that his priority is not to secure distribution deals for the movie but to do right by these women.

This film reminds me of another excellent sports doc, which I saw at SXSW -- Undefeated. The best sports stories are those that really get you to care about the people, and whether they win or lose, either way, it will be an unforgettable ending that will resonate with long after the lights go on.

Salaam Dunk