UNTIL I SAW THE INSIDE OF another high school, I did not realize how many things my school did not have for its students. I am not complaining because I honestly do not feel I missed out on anything; however, when I visited my relative’s school, I was stunned with the number of things they had available for the student body. Things like moveable chairs, weight equipment, a theater, and a football field. When my school was being built, it was meant to be a junior high school; but because of the baby boom, it was decided by the school district to turn the building into a high school. By the time I attended, we did not have module class schedules or color-coded hallways; we had loose tiles falling from the gymnasium’s ceiling and an asphalt covered piece of land outside that instead of being a parking lot was used for our outdoor activities like baseball and running. I mentioned in my previous review a hierarchy in my school, but I did not realize it would be something that stayed with me all the way until I went to college. My elementary school covered a neighborhood that was not as well off compared to one of our sister schools. Nothing was overtly said, but just using one’s eyes you could see there was more available to the students at the other school.      PERSONALLY, I NEVER FELT I WAS being discriminated against except maybe for being too big and having a bad case of acne. It was not until the latter years of high school that I felt I had more normal clothes because I had lost weight. The year I was involved with the school’s yearbook, I discovered our school was looked down upon from other schools in the city. Hearing about how our students were treated at sporting events, because many times we were always playing away games, I heard what comments were being made about us. I think this is why the other schools were so stunned when our football team made the city finals one year, playing on the same field as the city’s football team. The perception as far as I could tell, was being poor or less well off meant you could not be talented. I found it so weird despite feeling hurt by the negativity I discovered. It messed with my brain because whenever I would see the schools my relatives attended, I always felt like the poor relation, and I wondered if they ever felt the same about me as the city schools felt about my school. Having experienced this, I believe, added more to my enjoyment in watching this historical sport drama.      NOT BEING ALLOWED TO PLAY AT the golf course where they caddied, a group of Mexican American boys made their own golf course in the Texas desert, to teach themselves how to play the game. All they would need was some guidance to help them understand the game. With Jay Hernandez (Bad Moms franchise, Magnum P.I.-TV) as JB Pena, Dennis Quaid (Blue Miracle, The Hill) as Frank Mitchell, Cheech Marin (Champions, Shotgun Wedding) as Pollo, Julian Works (Mending the Line, The Standoff) as Joe Trevino, and Jaina Lee Ortiz (Misfire, Station 19-TV) as Lucy Pena; this film festival winning movie was not only inspirational but thoroughly entertaining. I enjoyed watching this despite not being a big fan of golf. The script, based on a true story, was simple and predictable. And though it may follow a template used by other films, I thought there was such heart and thought put into this production. The sets and costumes were perfect for the time frame of 1955. There were some scenes that were sad to me because I am sure stuff like that still goes on today. However, this was such a “feel good” film that I was left in a nearly euphoric state.                                 

3 ¼ stars