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The Heart of the Game

Play trailer Poster for The Heart of the Game PG-13 2005 1h 45m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 98 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Filmed over a period of seven years, director Ward Serrill profiles Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball team comprised of high-school girls. Darnellia Russell, one of the team's few black players, also comes into focus as she struggles to stay on the team despite major obstacles.
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The Heart of the Game

The Heart of the Game

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Critics Consensus

This group of high school girls and their eccentric basketball coach easily win your heart with their unusual humanity and dynamism.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek Will it be heartbreak or triumph for the Roosevelt Roughriders? You will care, passionately. Mar 14, 2018 Full Review Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Girls have hoop dreams too. And dreams can come true at the final buzzer. Aug 1, 2008 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader [The film] covers seven years and touches on some of the same social issues that gave Hoop Dreams its epic sweep, yet Serrill fails to treat any of them adequately, and the narrative loses its shape as events unfold. Mar 26, 2007 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com A simple, yet effective documentary that treats with respect female athletes who are too often overlooked. Rated: 3.0/4.0 Sep 10, 2020 Full Review Dorothy Woodend The Tyee (British Columbia) If the drama that sweeps through The Heart of the Game is any indication, God must have a thing for girls' basketball. Aug 23, 2017 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Writer/director Ward Serrill's wonderful documentary, about a Seattle high school girls basketball team the Roughriders coached by the inspiring Bill Resler, is a "Hoop Dreams" of the early 21st century. Rated: B+ Apr 23, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Munkhjargal A This movie turned out to be a very good movie. It has become a work that has been greatly enjoyed by the audience. I think that the work was born because of the director's poor thinking. It turned out to be a movie that I liked very much. I would like to thank the director and actors. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/01/24 Full Review Bahad j This idea of ​​the filmmaker made the movie more accessible to more people. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/24 Full Review Geke g It is more than game. More than average. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/27/24 Full Review Audience Member This is a great documentary to share with any girls basketball team 8th grade and up. A small portion of it contains sections that you will need to prepare your parents and the girls for the adult themes included in it, BUT these are lessons they need to be educated on in order to protect themselves from danger and possible predators. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Full of motivation! Got so pumped up :D Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review hardy c I'm not a basketball fan by any means (if the sport doesn't have "foot" in its name, I pass), but this documentary, following a girl's high school basketball team and its coach over seven years, is so well done that I have to rate it one of the better sports documentaries I've seen in a while. What transpires on and off the court (and not just the basketball court) makes for intriguing, engaging high drama, and I defy you not to be rooting for the ladies at the climax of the film. Indeed, at times it seem more like a work of fiction rather than s documentary. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Ward Serrill

Director

Ward Serrill

Writer

Ward Serrill

Producer

Liz Manne

Producer

Larry Estes

Executive Producer

The Angel

Original Music

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The Heart of the Game

The Heart of the Game (2005) The Heart of the Game (2005) The Heart of the Game (2005) The Heart of the Game (2005) The Heart of the Game (2005) The Heart of the Game (2005) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmed over a period of seven years, director Ward Serrill profiles Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball team comprised of high-school girls. Darnellia Russell, one of the team's few black players, also comes into focus as she struggles to stay on the team despite major obstacles.
Director
Ward Serrill
Producer
Ward Serrill, Liz Manne
Screenwriter
Ward Serrill
Production Co
Woody Creek
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jun 9, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$444.1K
Runtime
1h 45m
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