CHESTERTOWN, MD-
As part of the new KICK Film Festival, the theme of basketball takes center stage for the evening’s programming at the Garfield April 22. As a tribute to the winning seasons for Washington College and Kent County High School, KICK will be presenting the classic basketball masterpiece “Hoop Dreams” which critic Roger Ebert called “one of the best films about American life that I have ever seen.”
The film follows two African-American teenagers who are recruited to play basketball at a predominantly white high school with an outstanding basketball program. The two young men take 90-minute commutes to school, enduring long and difficult workouts and practices and having to adjust to a totally new social environment.
The film raises a number of important issues concerning race, class, economic division, education and values in contemporary America.
“We selected ‘Hoop Dreams’ as our first film because it remains the gold standard of what a sports documentary is all about,” said Bryan Matthews, director of WC’s athletic program, which is a co-sponsor along with Echo Hill Outdoor School and the Chestertown Spy.
“I think it will be as meaningful to one our students as it will be for the high School students at Kent County High,” he said.
Prior to the showing, local filmmaker Kurt Kolaja, whose last documentary on the Kent County Marching Band won top honors at the Chesapeake Film Festival, will be premiering a selection of short films on WC’s Division III men’s basketball team.
WC Coach Rob Nugent, who recently gained national headlines for his team’s sportsmanship, will be honoring all the men’s and women’s basketball teams in Kent County with introductory remarks.