The Basket

In the late 1800s in a small rural town in Washington state, a tragedy had struck the town. A deadly flu had wiped out almost all the children, leaving behind only one girl named Lily who had been stricken with a severe leg injury. The town had since been devastated and lost its spirit.

However, change was on the horizon. A mysterious stranger, Martin Conlon (Peter Coyote), and his son, Sam (Adam Burks), had arrived in town. Martin, a former college professor from the East Coast, had come to fulfill a debt from a friend and teach at the local school. He brought with him a love of basketball, a game the townsfolk had never heard of. He soon realized that the town was in desperate need of a distraction and a reason to come together, so he proposed the creation of a basketball team.

The town was initially skeptical of this strange new game, but slowly, with the help of Martin and Sam, they began to understand it. Martin taught them how to play and the kids in the town were especially interested in the sport. One day, while wandering around the town, Martin and Sam stumbled upon a group of Nez Perce Native Americans playing a version of the game. They called it "The Basket". Intrigued, Martin asked the Native Americans to join in with the town's team and teach them more about the game.

At first, the Native Americans were hesitant to join in, knowing the history of their interactions with white settlers. But to the surprise of the town, the Native Americans agreed to help out with the team. Soon, the game of basketball became the common ground that brought the town and Native Americans together.

While the town began to come alive again, Martin and Sam started feeling the echoes of their pasts. Martin was grappling with the loss of his wife and child, and Sam was struggling with the sudden death of his mother. They found solace in the new life they had found in the town, and a bond formed between them.

The movie also explores the complicated relationship between Lily (Amber Scott) and her father, Sheriff Tom Keller (Robert Burke). Tom was still in mourning over the death of his wife and was struggling to connect with his daughter, who blamed him for her injury. However, the game of basketball brought them together, and Tom saw how much the sport had brightened Lily's spirits.

As the big game approached, tensions were high, and the basketball team faced challenges in terms of their abilities, but more importantly, their ability to come together as a team. Despite facing difficulties, the team was determined to do their best, and they found strength in the unity between the Native Americans and the townsfolk.

The Basket is a beautiful movie that delves into themes of grief, loss, and redemption. It showcases the potential of sport to create bridges between people of different backgrounds and illustrates the transformative power of working together towards a common goal. The film is an uplifting and heartwarming story that is perfect for the whole family.