Tuesday, January 25, 7:00 pm
Ethics Film Series

The Heart of the Game focuses on Darnellia Russell’s unforgettable and all-too-true story — the loss of her eligibility and her legal battle to get back on the court to play the game that means everything to her.  Her coach, her team and her family stand by her as Darnellia takes on the ruling body of high school sports in Washington State, an obstacle to her future and the team’s shot at a state championship.

Post-film discussion was led by Jan Boxill, director of the Parr Center for Ethics at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, former coach, and sports ethicist; Phil Costanzo, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University; and Ovester Grays, girls’ basketball coach at Hillside High School, Durham.

This event was presented in conjunction with the Center for Documentary Studies, the Arts of the Moving Image Program, and Duke’s Screen/Society.

Synopsis:
(Ward Serrill, 2005, 1 hour 43 minutes)

This documentary captures the passion and energy of a Seattle high school girls’ basketball team, the eccentricity of their unorthodox coach, and the incredible true story of one player’s fight to play the game she loves. Director Ward Serrill followed the Roosevelt Roughriders girls’ basketball team for six tumultuous seasons capturing the drama and exhilaration of youth and the inspiration of a passionate coach whose lessons of self-esteem, confidence and compassion go far beyond the court. Learn more at www.heartofthegame.org.

Awards and Notable Screenings:
* Winner Best Documentary
— Portland International Film Festival
* Winner Best Documentary (tie with An Inconvenient Truth),
— Maui International Film Festival
* Winner Billie Award Best Entertainment
— Women’s Sports Foundation
* Nominee Best Documentary Screenplay
— Writer’s Guild of America
* World Premiere
— Toronto International Film Festival
* Opening Night Feature
— IDA/Discovery/Silver Docs Festival, Washington, DC
* Runner up Best Documentary
— Seattle International Film Festival