Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hockey docu portrays Willie O'Ree as deserving role model.
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Willie
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
WILLIE is a documentary about the life of pioneering Black ice hockey player Willie O'Ree.
Is It Any Good?
A remarkable story deserving of wider attention, this documentary chronicles Willie O'Ree's journey to become the first Black major-league ice hockey player in 1958. The story of Willie is told by the man himself, his friends, colleagues, and other notable figures from the world of sport. Rightly seeking to increase awareness of O'Ree's achievements, the movie is loosely based around efforts to get O'Ree admitted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, with it regarded as an oversight on the part of the NHL that he had not been included already.
More than tell the story of O'Ree's playing career, Willie also shines a light on the racism endemic in both hockey and society that still persecutes athletes of different genders and at different levels of the game. Here, O'Ree's story continues. His tireless work in recent years, traveling across the U.S. and Canada to help and encourage young players, shows him to be unrelenting in his quest to improve access, inclusion, and achieve sporting excellence. It is in these fly-on-the-wall moments we get to see modern-day O'Ree in action, and gain some insights into how he strikes a compelling balance between his kindness and compassion, and his hardened will to win. This is a portrait of an inspirational figure and a true sporting icon.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Willie O'Ree came across in Willie. What obstacles did he have to overcome and what character strengths did he show in doing so? What makes someone a positive role model? Who do you look up to?
Discuss the racism that O'Ree faced. Do you think things have improved today? Why or why not? How to talk with kids about racism.
How did this documentary compare to other documentaries you may have seen? How can documentaries help tell stories that need to be told?
Talk about the jobs that O'Ree did after his playing career ended. How much do you know about what happens to professional athletes when they retire? How are things different for big stars these days?
Discuss Willie's proposed induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Why is recognition like this important to both athletes and sports fans?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 17, 2020
- Cast : Willie O’Ree , Wayne Gretzky , Wayne Simmonds
- Director : Laurence Mathieu-Leger
- Studio : Don Kee Productions
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : History
- Character Strengths : Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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