One of the fun aspects of 20+ years of C & F has been meeting many of the interesting and creative people here in southern California. These friends and supporters give us advance notice (and access!) to lots of special event and previews. One of these fortunate occurrences happened just a week ago when we were given a reviewers DVD copy of a new documentary which opens the first week of November in Pasadena
This is Quantum Hoops: The Caltech Basketball Story. Now, I am not a basketball fan, and never attended Caltech, further, this is the story of a team and athletic program… which lost over 240 conference games in a row! And yet, there is always light at the end of the tunnel and this excellent film is a delight
Director Rick Greenwald has done his homework, and reached back over the decades to interview many of the greats in Caltech history of accomplishment who just happen to have played for the team. You’ll hear from a 2006 Nobel prize recipient, opposing coaches , a World Series of Poker champion, and a Guinness book record holder for consecutive free throws, and consecutive three point baskets (209 in a row!) - is still at the school. The modern surf board was invented by a former player, and Walt Disney’s personal financial analyst who gave the go ahead for Disney land also played.
Quantum Hoops is about people and opportunity, and accomplishment. No one attends Caltech for the athletic program- they do not award athletic scholarships, and no professional sports organization comes to recruit these players. This is about learning to be better and to do ones best, win or lose, and to take pride in the love of the game. We get to meet the coach Roy Dow and his team which actually consist of more high school class valedictorians (6) than varsity players (4)! It is obviously a very brainy group, now if they could only win a game
Actor David Duchovny (of x-file) provides the narration and is a perfect pick. This is Rick Greenwald’s first feature, but his years of experience in his day job as film editor and post production supervisor have obviously served him well with Quantum hoops he has brought us an original and entertaining true story with heart – but no sentimentality. I only hope the public discovers it and it receives the success it deserves.
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