Hoop Dreams

An Extraordinary True Story.

A five-year intimate portrait of two young athletes navigating systemic obstacles and family bonds in pursuit of basketball dreams, balancing hope against the harsh realities of class and race.

Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white suburban school well-known for the excellence of its basketball program. Gates and Agee dream of NBA stardom, and with the support of their close-knit families, they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. This acclaimed documentary was shot over the course of five years.