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It may sound like we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel with sports films if we’re now showcasing lacrosse. However, in the case of director Miranda de Pencier’s “The Grizzlies,” our barrel runneth over. Like any good, inspirational athletic adventure, the film forges a strong connection with the human side of the story. There’s a fervent, fiery emotional drive propelling this true-life tale of a teacher who inspired his underdog students to take up their sticks, overcome unrelenting sorrow and unite an unsung community. The film, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival, saw its March 20 U.S. release date delayed due to the coronavirus, which is a shame since it’s exactly the type of uplifting movie that could boost spirits during these bleak times.

Russ Sheppard (Ben Schnetzer) has taken a job as a history teacher at Kugluktuk High School to pay off his...

Arriving in Kugluktuk, Nunavut — a remote settlement in Canada’s Arctic North — to teach History, recent graduate Russ Sheppard (Ben Schnetzer) thinks he knows it all. However, his class is poorly attended, his pupils are disaffected and his lessons fall on deaf ears. Hoping to tackle the triple treat of depression, alcoholism and suicide by engendering some healthy competition and galvanising the whole community, Russ attempts to establish a local lacrosse team. Firstly, however, he needs to find players — something student Miranda (Emerald MacDonald) assures him won’t be possible until he convinces classmates Adam (Ricky Marty-Pahtaykan) and Zack (Paul Nutarariaq) to play.

So, another white saviour narrative told from the perspective of an inspirational teacher then? It’s hard, even having seen the movie, to write a synopsis that doesn’t read like a troublesome cliche. Based on a true story, no less — the de facto defense of movies...