Hoop Dreams

Dir. Steve James | USA 1994 | 172 mins | 12A

Steve James', newly restored, landmark documentary Hoop Dreams, tells the story of two African-American dreamers determined to one day play professional basketball.

Originally intended as a short film and seven-and-a-half years in the making, this intimate reflection of contemporary American inner-city culture follows William Gates and Arthur Agee on the courts of the game they love. Plucked from the streets and given the opportunity to attend a suburban prep school and play for a legendary high school coach, they both soon discover that their dreams of NBA glory become obscured amid the intense pressures of academics, family life, economics and athletic competitiveness. But most importantly, both boys remain focused on their dream, no matter how hard tragedy strikes or how desperate their situation becomes.

What emerges is an insightful portrait of two teenagers striving to live their dream, and a candid exploration of our society’s tendency to exploit young athletes by making promises of fame and fortune that rarely come to pass. Twenty five years after its premiere at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, this revelatory film continues to inspire, and is widely considered one of the great works of American non-fiction cinema.

Tickets: £6.00 adult / £5.00 concession