The Queen of Basketball

A love story between Lusia and basketball which justifies systematic change to enable women athletes everywhere.

Screenplay...................................... 7 / 10 Interviews........................................8 Visuals................................................ 7 Sound................................................... 6 Editing................................................ 7 Music....................................................... 5 Timeless Utility................................. 8 Total.................................................... 48 / 70 ~= 6.9 (which I rounded to 7) Verdict................................................. Recommended.

I had never heard of Lusia Harris before watching "The Queen of Basketball". It turns out that she died last year, around the time that the documentary won an Academy Award!

Anyway, the documentary shows the struggles with which Harris had to put up in her efforts to become a basketball player in the days when there was no WNBA. Much of the documentary features an interview with Harris. She just gives the straight stuff, no megalomania or anything. It's clear that this woman had to fight tooth and nail so that other women could participate in the sport.

I don't know if I would call it the greatest documentary of all time, but it's a good look at what people have to go through when the deck is stacked against them (in Harris's case, she was the daughter of sharecroppers in Mississippi). It's too bad that of all the Oscar-nominated movies, the documentaries are usually the least seen; they do tell the most important stories. Check this one out if you can; it's available on YouTube.

Lucy Harris does such an amazing job of bringing this documentary to life. I loved her intro where she talked about herself without telling us who she is. I loved her support of her family and how she talked about what could have happened without being down on her situation. An all around outstanding message told with a level of life that brings tears of joy. Also, well put together and great use of footage and editing. Earlier today I got curious so I googled "the best thing about humanity." For me it's knowing that people like Lucy are out there. People who have overcome hardships and yet can tell their story with such joy life and humor. Thank you for making this documentary.

Some documentaries seem to show off, the producers trying to show the world how they have such great new ideas about how documentaries can be made. For me, this detracts from the story; since they're trying to tell me something about real life, when the filmmakers do a bunch of things that distract your attention from the story or the facts, it feels like instead of showing me something, it feels like they're just trying to convince me of a certain point of view. The Queen of Basketball sticks to the facts.

But it tells a story that draws you in: The story of Lucia "Lucy" Harris, whose skill at basketball helped bring attention to Women's basketball before the NCAA was interested, and before there was a WNBA.

Despite Lucy's current habit of twisting her tongue in strange ways during pauses between or at the end of sentences (maybe she has ill-fitting dentures?), I found her to be charming and and not-at-all impressed with her past accomplishments on the basketball court. Very proud of it, but not impressed. It's not false modesty. She played because she loved playing, not because she wanted adulation.

No, the producers aren't worried about impressing with their filmmaking techniques. They trust their audience, and let the record speak for itself.

This could and should have been longer. Even as a short doc, it could have had a longer duration.

Even considering that, I think that what it does is so powerful that is one of the best of this year nominees for Oscars - 2nd just behind Audible - and I really liked to know about this great woman that didn't have all the opportunities she deserved. It's very well edited and fast paced, but what it differenciates is Lusia's personality. What a charming lady, a winner!

It's really fascinating that every year these docs are so important to discover these stories and putting them in the right place in history. I was really sad when I realised she passed away after this.