Off the Rez
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Frank docu prompts questions about sports, race, and family.
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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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What's the Story?
Executive produced by Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, OFF THE REZ is a feature-length documentary following Native American basketball phenom Shoni Schimmel -- one of the most talented high school players in the country. With Shoni's undeniable talent on the court catching the eyes of college scouts, she leaves the Umatilla Indian Reservation behind and moves with her family to Portland, Oregon, where she plays ball with a suburban team (and for her mother, who's the team's new coach) and moves one step closer to a coveted college scholarship. But to Shoni and her passionate family, there's far more at stake than a free education.
Is It Any Good?
Liking sports or basketball isn't a prerequisite for appreciating this no-frills coming-of-age story about a seriously talented girl who applies equal seriousness to the task of making her family and culture proud. As it turns out, Shoni Schimmel's story is engaging enough, no matter where your interests lie.
Eschewing editing tricks that could arguably improve the pacing, filmmaker Jonathan Hock largely presents the action as it unfolds, resulting in a story that feels real -- and, at times, appropriately bleak. Because the truth is this: In spite of Shoni's bright prospects, the realities of her family's struggles, both off the rez and on, are a palpable obstacle to her ultimate success. The film also reveals the sobering fact that Native Americans still grapple not only with racism but also with its lingering effects on their own self-worth.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about racism in the context of Native American culture. Does it surprise you to learn that Native Americans still experience racism in today's world? What are the negative affects of racism? How do racism and stereotyping affect the way a culture views itself long-term?
Do their own past mistakes unduly influence how hard Shoni's parents push their daughter? Do her parents want her to succeed more than she does? At what point does familial support start to feel like pressure?
What are the negative consequences of premarital sex and alcoholism in the context of this film? What were Shoni's mother and father forced to give up when they got pregnant before they were married? How did alcohol affect the choices Shoni's cousin made about his future?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 26, 2011
- Network: TLC
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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