BratskBasket / Hoop Dreams / 1994 / Eng ᴴᴰ

“Hoop Dreams“ brilliantly follows multiple parallel stories, bringing the viewer into the lives of two families of inner-city kids looking for a chance at the “big time“, their ticket out of the ghetto. Although the main focus is on William Gates and Arthur Agee, their “supporting cast“ is equally enthralling. From William’s jaded brother Curtis, sublimating his own basketball aspirations to the reality of his blue-collar mailroom job, to Arthur’s indomitable mom Sheila, doing the impossible every day as she keeps her troubled family together, there are a thousand reasons to cheer, laugh, cry, and rage packed throughout this amazing, inspirational, cautionary documentary. By examining not only the players but also their families and environments, we are given a clearer view of their aspirations and motivations, what they plan to achieve and what they wish to avoid.