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Lessons of Basketball and War
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Well-meaning docu lacks depth but inspires empathy.
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Lessons of Basketball and War
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What's the Story?
LESSONS OF BASKETBALL AND WAR follows a group of middle-school girls in Portland, Oregon who settled there after fleeing war and strife in Somalia. School staff members noticed that there was a lot of conflict and animosity among some of the girls because of tribal and ethnic differences. The principal also noticed that many of the girls liked to play with basketballs while waiting for school to start. So he started coaching an African girls' team, hoping that by learning the game, and learning how to work together as a team, the girls would carry those lessons over into the classrooms, hallways, and even into their homes.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary about a group of middle-school girls relocated from Somalia inspires empathy by introducing us to relatable young teens struggling to adapt in a new land. Lessons of Basketball and War allows us to get to know them as individuals and to start to understand their background and native culture. It leaves an unsettled feeling, though, as even Principal Bacon struggles with whether or not he'd call the program a success. And there's a little frustration in only seeing Mr. Bacon tell the girls over and over that they have to be nicer to each other without exploring any other ways he might have helped build team spirit.
The footage at the beginning of the situation in Somalia that the families were fleeing might be hard for younger kids to understand, and sensitive viewers of any age may need reassurance and to be encouraged to find ways they can help. Otherwise the content is fine for all ages, but it's most likely to appeal to middle schoolers who are going through lots of changes in their own lives and are becoming curious about the bigger world around them. Overall there are positive messages about finding better ways to get along, and the future looks bright for the girls, now young women, who've been through the program.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Lessons of Basketball and War. What lessons do you think the team members learned? What did you learn by watching them and learning their stories?
Do you think the African girls' basketball team was a successful or a failed experiment? Why?
What team sports have you played, whether in P.E. or for a school or other team? What did you learn from the experience? What's good, and bad, about being on a team?
How does the movie inspire empathy?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: February 26, 2015
- Director: Ron Bourke
- Studio: Ron Bourke Films
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Great Girl Role Models , Middle School
- Character Strengths: Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 56 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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