Director: Sydney Freeland
Writers: Sydney Freeland, Sterlin Harjo, Michael Powell
Production Companies: Wise Entertainment, Chernin Entertainment, Lake Ellyn Entertainment
Genre: Drama, Sport
Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes
Release Date: September 27, 2024 (United States)
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English
Filming Locations: New Mexico, USA
Story
The Chuska Warriors are a high school basketball team with a proud Native American heritage that plays their home games in the heart of New Mexico’s Chuska Mountains. The team is well-known for its perseverance, spirit, and “Rez Ball” style of play, which is a fast-paced, high-energy variation of basketball that symbolizes the resiliency and strength of the local community.
The Warriors’ hopes of winning a state championship appeared realistic until their star player, Tyson Yazzie, unexpectedly dies. The team is devastated, their leader is gone, and all hope of winning appears to be lost.
Coach Heather Hobbs (Jessica Matten) has to find a way to motivate her team while the community is in mourning. Everyone is devastated by the loss, but Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt), Tyson’s closest friend and the new team captain, is particularly affected. Jimmy is put under a lot of pressure to step up, but he struggles with grief, self-doubt, and the weight of expectations, which starts to get to him.
As her family struggles to deal with the loss, Jimmy’s mother Gloria Holiday (Julia Jones) tries to keep them united. As a former basketball player herself, Gloria is aware that Rez Ball is more than simply a game; for the children living on the reservation, it serves as a lifeline, a means of escape from poverty, and a source of pride for the whole community.
The Warriors have obstacles to overcome both on and off the court as they get ready for the state playoffs. Without their star player, the team needs to learn how to function as a unit, coming up with fresh tactics and depending on one another’s advantages. They never lose sight of what they are playing for—their community, their families, and the memory of their departed friend—despite the season’s highs and lows, triumphs, and heartbreaks.
The Chuska Warriors find themselves up against the state’s best team in an intense conclusion. As the game draws to a close, they understand that regardless of the outcome, they have already accomplished something more significant: they have united as a family, respecting their history, and demonstrating that Rez Ball’s spirit endures.
Plot Summary
The Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, are depicted in “Rez Ball” (2024) as being in a precarious situation following the loss of their star player. To maintain their hopes of winning the state title, the team needs to come together and overcome individual and group obstacles. While navigating the competitive world of high school sports, the movie explores themes of community, resiliency, and the distinct cultural identity of Native American athletes. This is a story about more than just basketball; it is a story of camaraderie, tenacity, and the essence of “Rez Ball,” a brand of play with strong cultural ties.
Cast
Kauchani Bratt as Jimmy Holiday
Jessica Matten as Heather Hobbs
Devin Sampson-Craig as Bryson Badonie
Amber Midthunder as Dezbah Weaver
Julia Jones as Gloria Holiday
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
Jaren K. Robledo as Levi Silversmith
Damian Henry Castellane as Ruckus Largo
Dallas Goldtooth as Henry Tso
Cody Lightning as Micah Tso
Zoey Reyes as Krista
Ryan Begay as Ronald Jackson
Ernest Tsosie III as Benny Begay
Joey A. Chavarillo as Duane
