MOVIE:
Rise
WHERE TO WATCH:
Disney+
OUR RATING:
4/5 Stars
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
After emigrating from Nigeria to Greece, the Antetokounmpos struggle to care for their five children, the brothers play basketball with a local team and discover their great abilities on the court.
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Rise based on the real-life story of NBA basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family. It's packed with that Disney magic; it's inspiring, authentic and has heart. Award-winning director, Akin Omotoso (Vaya), dreamed of telling this story for eight years, and you can feel all of that passion rolling off the screen.
Rise is more than just a sports film; it's a story about a family's determination and faith to rise above their circumstances.
We first meet Charles (Daya Okeniyi) and Veronica (Yetide Badaki) when they decide to leave their home country of Nigeria in search of a better life for their family. In scenes reminiscent of recent news stories, we see them hide and flee in terror in Turkey when the police evict and capture immigrants. They find a safe passage to Greece, where they live in fear of being caught and deported as they raise their four undocumented children. The family face many setbacks as they strive for a better life. When their oldest sons, Thannis (Ral Agada) and Giannis (Uche Agada), discover a natural ability to play basketball, it sets the boys and the family on a path beyond their wildest dreams.
What makes the story so powerful is its authenticity, from the casting (all Nigerian actors) to being filmed in Athens in the neighbourhood the family lived in and at the basketball court where the brothers played.
The cast does a remarkable job of endearing the family to the viewer, led by actors Daya Okeniyi and Yetide Badaki. There's a bond between the family that is palpable on screen. I was rooting for this family from the get-go, celebrated with them, and cried with them as they faced setbacks and triumphs that are very relatable. In their acting debut, real-life brothers Uche and Ral Agada bring realness and sincerity to their portrayal of the brothers. It doesn't feel like you're watching actors act but people living real lives, making it very powerful. There is one scene in which Uche delivers such great nuance for a first-time actor.
The basketball sequences are exhilarating to watch, and there was also a keen attention to detail with some foreshadowing and some NBA easter eggs. Another must mention is the soundtrack, which is a mixture of genres, with some of the songs aiding the storytelling.
The film touches on several themes, particularly the plight of immigrants and their struggles to obtain residency and bureaucratic red tape, the prejudice they experience, and living in fear of being caught.
In an interview with Channel24, Omotoso said that the key message of this film and the family is to stay true to yourself and not let the circumstances dictate who you are.
I felt a wide range of emotions while watching this film; the main thing it left me with was hope. If you're in need of some inspiration, Rise is a must-watch.