McFARLAND USA
US, 2015, 129 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Costner, Carlos Pratts, Ramiro Rodriguez, Maria Bello.
Directed by Niki Caro.
Mc Farland USA is one of those inspirational sports films, underdogs, a coach with energy, training, difficulties, and, finally winning. It is a Disney film.
However, even though it is somewhat formulaic, audiences have found it very entertaining and inspiring. One of the differences is that the sport is Cross Country running.
Kevin Costner plays Jim White, a coach with a short fuse who went to Mc Farland, California, in 1987, accepting a nothing job but seeing the children of Mexican immigrants running to the fields before and after school, and finding a notice about Cross Country, he decided to introduce this to the school, rounded up seven Hispanic students, including one with a weight problem who became the physical and moral anchor of the group. One of the boys, son of a picker of vegetables and armaments, is a potential champion.
This is a true story, the picture of the boys training, of the White family settling into Mc Farland, learning about the Hispanic customs, especially for the Quinceanera celebration for the 15-year-old daughter, sharing meals – and White going for a day’s work in the fields to experience what it was like for the boys.
They go in various competitions, learn a lot and are finally ready for a state championship which they win. Information at the final credits, along with pictures of White and the seven men almost 30 years later, show White had coached 11 wins over 15 years, that they all had good lives, even one with a prison term, and many of them committed to law enforcement and education at Mc Farland itself.
The film was directed by New Zealand director, Niki Caro, best known for The Whale Rider.
1. An entertaining sports story? Inspiration? Formula, differences?
2. The title, the California town, poverty, immigrants, hard work in the fields, vegetables and nuts? Mexicans, language, style of living, food…? Family customs and closeness?
3. Cross-country running, as a sport, its demands, difficult terrains, the training, exercise, skills, endurance and pain, determination?
4. The introduction, Jim White, Idaho, his work as a coach, the silent players, his injuring the player, history of short fuse? Moving, a poor job, driving, to California, his wife and the girls, the house, going out to eat, fearing the gangs?
5. Kevin Costner as Jim White? The symbolism of his name in this community? Strong character, his career, personality, relationship with his wife, children? The interview with the principle? His situation, coaching, meeting the kids, their lack of interest, sending them on collapse, the football game, the main coach, his stopping the boy going back on the field, the clash with a coach, the interview with the principal, the coach eating the apple?
6. The kids, from Mexican immigrants, their families, their names, language, both Spanish and English? At school, at work, the long hours, their life and prospects?
7. Jim White driving, Thomas and his running, locking him? Thomas and his suspicions? The confrontation? The idea for cross-country? The notice, the information, the discussion with the principal, the board, the grants? Gathering the kids, Daniel as his anchor? The recruitments?
8. Jim, his wife, their life, his daughters, forgetting his birthday the birthday cake? Tensions in the house? His discussions with the man at the shop, the Quinceanera, the preparations, the celebration, the speeches? Going to the drive, gangs, the bashings? Jim’s reaction, his daughter being safe, Thomas
saving her?
9. The students, the training, the first competition, coming forth? Learning? The poverty, the contrast with the upper-class teams, playing golf…? Learning, running over the hills of Armin’s, running to work and back, going further?
10. The families, the parents, work, the foreman, the pickers? The man at the store, discussions about the tree, his help with the celebration? The wife, the car, the needing to help, being fixed, the girl, the manicure for herself and daughters? Becoming friends? Jim and his going to the Dios family meal, the tacos, speaking in English and being understood? Preparing for the car wash, the food?
11. Jim, going to work in the field, the hard work, the effect on him?
12. The father, not wanting his sons to participate? Books not being practical? But the issue of college?
13. Competing with teams like Palo Alto, the improvement? More success? Daniel, food, the loss of weight, his participation? The effect on the others of being in the sport?
14. The State competition, everybody involved, the procession of cars, the bus? The hills? The race, waiting for the result, success?
15. The final credits, the subsequent careers of Jim White, with his wife, all the members of the team, their creditable jobs and contributions to Mc Farland?
