*There are some spoilers in this!!!*
After seeing clips on TikTok of the Netflix original Rez Ball, I was hooked. A seemingly humorous and competitive film about basketball? Count me in. However, Rez Ball is so much more than a movie about basketball. Yes, it was funny and captivating to see these high schoolers’ journey to a state championship, but it was also really informative on the realities of the lives of Native Americans today.After star player Nataanii Jackson dies by suicide, the Chuska Warriors (a basketball team in New Mexico’s Navajo reservation) must band together if they want to win the championship. The film touches on the high rates of suicide and substance abuse within Native communities in the United States as Nataanii’s mother and sister died in a drunk driving accident. The film mostly focuses on Jimmy Holiday, Nataanii’s best friend, who must step into his role as the leader of the team. While plenty of screen time is allotted to the boys’ basketball journeys, the directors also use the film to illustrate other issues in Indigenous communities today. Jimmy’s mother, who struggles with alcohol, is shown taking action against her dependence on the substance and getting a job after seeing how easy it is to lose a child. In addition, the boys embrace their culture, choosing to call out their plays in Navajo, instead of trying to distance themselves. It is inspiring to see how proud the Chuska community is of their team. As someone who is really picky about the movies that I like, I will definitely be rewatching Rez Ball sometime soon.