The Rebound preview: Documentary on adaptive atheletes makes you stop, think and wonder

At the heart of Miami is a community-supported basketball program, called the Miami Heat Wheels, for the differently abled. The players dream of winning the national championship but most importantly, they dream of living their lives with opportunity, education and livelihood; they want to live a life of dignity.

The Rebound is the story of adaptive athletes and their journey, a film about perseverance, daily trials and tribulations, as players push through each season, working to prove themselves each day.

Director Shaina Allen’s experience in sports, news broadcasting and lifestyle cinematography helps her set the tone of the film at the outset. As the team struggles to gather funds to finish a regular season, the film tracks the lives of three of its players and expands its radius of inquiry from professional to personal.

In what seems like a classic sports documentary, The Rebound invests in lives that are defined by, but not limited to, the space of the basketball court, and takes us through the everyday struggles of living with a disability.

Why you should watch it?
The game is fascinating and the players are passionate. The film gives you a fast-paced narrative of this competitive sport and takes you through a journey captured over three years on reel.

The use of glidecam and steadicam for the games lend an excitement to the narrative and captures motion and physicality of the game with aplomb. In emotional scenes, the camera lingers on to capture the spirit of the players.

In Miami Heat Wheels' quest for a national championship, Allen gives a character-driven story that makes us introspect and perceive our own constraints.

The Rebound is a crucial film that raises awareness about adaptive sports, issues regarding disability, and at its heart, tells a humane story of passion, hope, and dreams.

The Rebound will be showcased at the Woodpecker International Film Festival on 9 November, 5pm, Siri Fort Auditorium-II.