Hoop Dreams is a documentary that comes with a reputation and it deserves it.
It's the most fascinating account of the lives and careers of two potential basketball stars, who were selected at the age of 14 for scholaships to the prestigious St Joseph college in Chicago to develop their sporting skills, play for the school and perhaps go on to college on scholarship.
It's not about sports this film, it's about life.
The boys are Arthur Agee and William Gates, both have a dream to play in the NBA, and it's a dream shared by the families of both boys. Over the four and a half years covered by the film, each have their ups and downs and so too do their families.
This is the most marvellous insight into how basketballl offers a way off inner-city streets for kids with no other chance. Filmmakers Steve James and Fred Marx were incredibly lucky, in that the boys they chose had natural and complementary dramatic arcs in their lives over this period. It's absolutely riveting stuff, regardless of whether you're into basketball or not.
It's not about sports this film, it's about life.
Hoop Dreams
Wednesday 5 February, 9:35pm on NITV (streaming after broadcast at SBS on Demand)
M
USA, 1994
Genre: Documentary
Language: English
Director: Steve James
Starring:
What's it about?
A film following the lives of two African American boys – Arthur Agee and William Gates – who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.
