As WWI rages overseas, a quiet Washington farming community is shell-shocked when two German orphans arrive from an internment camp. Stiff winds of prejudice rustle through amber waves of grain in The Basket, a delightful independent film.
The people of Waterville no sooner meet their foreign guests when tension mounts. A local soldier returns from the front crippled, while a new schoolmaster from the east causes a stir by introducing his class to German opera (and basketball) to teach life lessons. “To defend the mighty wall,” he tells young athletes, “each must fight for something small” (as in Nehemiah 4).
The Basket fights many “small” battles for grand principles. Teamwork. Kindness. Forgiveness. Sacrifice. Even romantic innocence is woven in. Can these families and neighbors overcome bitterness? Or will pride, grief, hatred and guilt undo the fragile community?
Five mild profanities, a discreet shot of men urinating and a friendly wink at gambling are unfortunate. Flashbacks to war-torn Germany and moments of cruelty may upset children. But teens and adults should find those caveats bearable considering the film’s virtuous core. Sports fans will also enjoy the climactic game and a look at how far basketball has come since 1918.
Of course, finding The Basket may be a challenge, but finding things to like about it won’t be. It’s a gentle, moving drama worth tracking down.
