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Many pro athletes rise through the ranks at well-known universities, with sports fans watching them play through college tournaments. But that’s not always the case. And Disney+’s sports drama Rise tells the unlikely true story of three brothers who went from a family struggling to get by to NBA stardom.
Rise follows the story of Veronika and Charles Antetokounmpo (Yetide Badaki and Dayo Okeniyi), who leave their home in Nigeria—and their infant son—behind to start a better life for their family in Greece. As they try to find jobs that will allow them legal citizenship, Charles works as a day laborer, while Veronika and their sons sell souvenirs on the streets of Athens. When two of their sons discover basketball at their neighborhood park, they realize that they could use the sport to help their family. But it comes with risks that threaten the family’s safety.
For this hard-working immigrant family, every day is another challenge, another sacrifice, another risk. But, no matter how bad things may get, they stick together, grateful for every new opportunity—and their love and determination make their story inspiring and uplifting.
Like the recent Oscar winner King Richard, Rise doesn’t focus on these three brothers and their rise to NBA fame. Instead, it focuses on the sacrifices of their parents—and on this tight-knit family whose love and support for one another led these men to go after their dreams, no matter how big and unlikely they may have once seemed. This family definitely understands the meaning of hard work—whether it’s Charles working long hours of tough manual labor or Veronika and her kids working with people on the streets or these teenage basketball hopefuls sharing shoes and sleeping on the gym floor to take full advantage of their opportunities. And as the years pass and the family continues to struggle to pay the bills and get their legal citizenship, viewers will admire their persistence, their determination, and their family togetherness.
Of course, the outcome of the story is no secret. And the tone of the film definitely feels more like a Disney movie than a gritty award season drama. But that doesn’t really take away from impact of this inspiring true story.
It may tell the story of a family of basketball champions, but Rise is more about the family than about the basketball. It’s an uplifting film about strength, determination, and the power of a loving, supportive family.
Rise debuts on Disney+ on June 24, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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