Chicago's celebrated documentary "Hoop Dreams" turns 30
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The creators and stars of the celebrated documentary "Hoop Dreams" are commemorating the film's 30th anniversary with a panel discussion Saturday.
Why it matters: The 1994 documentary about two high school basketball players is one of the best Chicago films of all time.
The big picture: In an era before social media, the film gave audiences a realistic look at the challenges Black teens face trying to make their dreams come true in Chicago.
Driving the news: Filmmaker Steve James, producer Peter Gilbert and stars William Gates and Arthur Agee will be on stage Saturday as part of a panel at the Chicago Humanities Festival.
What they're saying: "It forever changed my life," Gates (now 50 years old) tells Axios. "I may not have made the NBA, but the film cemented my place in basketball history."
Flashback: The film was shot over almost five years, documenting the course of both teenagers' high school experiences. It was slated to run on PBS, but it scored theater distribution after getting rave reviews at film festivals like Sundance.
- "The fact that it became this true theatrical film and stuck around the way it has is, honestly, totally shocking," James tells Axios.
Zoom in: Unlike most documentaries, "Hoop Dreams" grossed millions of dollars at the box office and spent almost a year in theaters.
- "The film is unique in today's culture," Gilbert tells Axios. "Most films today have very small lasting power, but 'Hoop Dreams' still resonates 30 years later because of William, Arthur and their families. Their stories go beyond basketball."
Zoom out: The film was famously snubbed by the Academy Awards, which led film critics and others to protest the Oscars, which changed their documentary rules after the controversy.
- "A film like 'Hoop Dreams' is what the movies are for," Roger Ebert said in his 1994 review. "It takes us, shakes us, and makes us think in new ways about the world around us. It gives us the impression of having touched life itself."
The latest: In honor of the 30th anniversary, a basketball court on the West Side has been dedicated to the two stars and the film.
- "The 30th anniversary and the basketball court in my hometown show that we have not been forgotten," Gates says.
If you go: The panel discussion is at 5:30pm Saturday on the campus of the University of Chicago in Hyde Park.