This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.
“Growing up on the reservation, I never really felt like I saw myself reflected in film and television,” said Sydney Freeland, writer and director of “Rez Ball.”
The new Netflix film is a fictional portrayal of an underdog Navajo boys basketball team trying to win a state championship. NBA star LeBron James is the executive producer.
Freeland, who has written for the hit Hulu series “Reservation Dogs,” said basketball is a huge sport across reservations in the U.S. and Canada.
“I think the closest comparison that I can think of is West Texas high school football, you know, the whole town will shut down.”
Without professional or college sports teams, high school athletics become an important focal point for families and the community. Freeland said while they were filming, two girls teams from the Navajo Nation went to the New Mexico state championships — selling out a university arena in Albuquerque.
That passion was evident when production of the film got underway — as 5,000 people sought 10 roles for players in her film.
To read the full interview, visit KUER.org.
