Believe in Me (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Believe In Me
Believe In Me movie poster
Directed by	Robert Collector
Produced by	Caldecot Chubb John Bard Manulis
Written by	Robert Collector
Starring	Jeffrey Donovan Samantha Mathis Bruce Dern
Music by	David Torn
Distributed by	Visionbox Pictures
Release date(s)	2005
Language	English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Believe In Me is a 2005 drama film directed by Robert Collector who has written and directed for other feature films as well. The film was released, although on a limited basis, in 2005. The film stars Jeffrey Donovan, Samantha Mathis, and Bruce Dern. The film was shot in various location in New Mexico. The film is based on the novel Brief Garland by Oklahoma author Harold Keith. The novel is about Keith's real life nephew, Jim Keith.^[1]

[edit] Plot

In early 1960s Oklahoma, a time of economic distress and small town politics, high-school sports are an integral part of the town's fabric and pride. But girls' sports are an afterthought and warrant little or no attention. Clay Driscoll, a young coach with big dreams, is hired by the local superintendent to coach boy’s basketball. Clay immediately finds himself head-to-head with Ellis Brawley, the town's ultimate boss, great-great grandson of the town's founder, owner of the bank and head of the school board. Clay is crushed by the news from Brawley that the job of boys’ coach has gone to “someone more qualified” and that he will be coaching the girls’ team. With his dream dashed and his future uncertain, Clay begins a journey from despair to acceptance, challenge and finally, destiny. Supported and inspired at every hurdle by his wife Jean’s wisdom and strength, Clay decides to stay and take on the seemingly impossible task of coaching the hapless Lady Cyclone. Lacking confidence, the rag-tag girls are ridiculed by the boys for wearing their oversized hand-me-downs, for even trying to play ball. But Clay learns as much from "his girls" as he teaches them. The Lady Cyclones develop pride to rally their spirit through the difficult season. They are challenged at every step by a dismissive school board and the ever-present 1960s small-town attitude that girls just shouldn’t be playing competitive sports. Through it all, Clay and Jean fight the system, support the girls, work to heal a wound in their own marriage, and turn around what was a neglected step-child program with a rich history of losing. The community eventually rallies behind Clay and the girls as they strive to achieve the unbelievable--the State Championship.