The Manassas football team learns captivating lessons on helping others. (The Weinstein Company)
You might not expect that a documentary about high school football in Tennessee could make you cry.
But recent documentary “Undefeated” will make you sob, laugh, smile and cheer.
The poignant film, which just won an Oscar for Best Documentary, delivers the wrenching and captivating story of the Memphis, Tennessee’s Manassas High School Tigers as they attempt a winning season after 110 years of losses.
The poor, inner city high school’s team has been plagued with violence, poor academics, player absences due to jail time and unfortunate resources.
The team lost perpetually, and better schools would pay Manassas to play them because the Tigers would inevitably lose and boost the season record of the other team.
But then businessman Bill Courtney took an interest and began coaching the Manassas Tigers as a volunteer.
Six years into trying to make a positive influence on the team, the Tigers were faced with their first opportunity at a winning record.
However, while Courtney wanted to win a few games, his main objective was teaching discipline, respect and character to a team of underprivileged and under-educated young men.
The film focuses on the struggles and successes of three key players: Chavis Daniels, a high school junior recently out of jail; O.C. Brown, star tackle and college recruit; and Montrail “Money” Brown, an undersized right tackle who wants to go to college.
Daniel is violent and angry, initiating petty fights among his teammates.
O.C. wants to play college football, but has trouble with academics and a weak ACT score.
He needs a 16 out of 36, but on his first attempt gets a 12.
He stays with a wealthy volunteer coach to work with a tutor and get his ACT scores up.
“Money” is passionate and a leader on the field and in the classroom.
But a torn ACL ruins his senior year season, and financial problems at home make a future in college unlikely despite his intelligence.
Documentarian filmmakers Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin do a beautiful job communicating the hardships and accomplishments of the Manassas Tigers.
They package a presentation of the key players and coaches that engages on every level.
Courtney might as well be an Academy Award winning actor for his conviction and fluidity in speaking.
Every time he gives a pep talk to the team, he manages to inspire the audience.
Beyond telling the story of an inner city football team, “Undefeated” is a striking representation of the widespread poverty, stark class difference and skewed income distribution prevalent in Memphis.
“Undefeated” is not your average football film, but rather a poignant documentary that inspires and teaches multiple life lessons about the importance of character.
(The Weinstein Company)
