Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Historical sports docu about lived experiences with racism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Because They Believed
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED interviews ground-breaking, record-breaking athletes from lots of different sports about the difficulties they overcame in order to achieve at the highest levels, and about their own lived experiences with racism, prejudice, and bigotry.
Is It Any Good?
This long, well-intentioned sports documentary contains a wealth of history, invaluably told by the people who lived and changed it. Unfortunately, Because They Believed is a little too stiff to forge a real emotional connection with viewers, or to really invite them into the moments of hardship and triumph. People are interviewed with one camera that doesn't move, often in public settings with distracting background activity and off-camera noises.
Many people's experiences are similar, but including so many of them becomes repetitive instead of adding emotional impact. A couple of segments are much longer than the others, but while the topics are interesting, neither are more dynamic or impactful than the rest of the movie. A narrator who introduces each athlete voicing over archival photos and footage adds little enthusiasm. Still, this is a fine starting point for older kids to learn about the racist barriers many top athletes had to overcome.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the racism faced by the athletes in Because They Believed. Why is it important to hear and learn about other people's lived experiences? What can we learn about ourselves and our world when we learn about the past?
What are some of the ways we continue to struggle with racism in society today? What else can we do to improve access to, and equality in, sports?
Do you like documentaries? Are they a good way to learn? What are some of your favorites?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 2, 2024
- Director : Steven Bernier
- Studio : Freestyle Releasing
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , History
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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