Edge of America (2003) (TV)

Director:

Chris Eyre

Writer (WGA):

Willy Holtzman (written by)

Release Date:

10 December 2003 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on a true story, a black educator takes a job teaching high-school English at the Three Nations Reservation, and is coaxed into coaching the girls basketball team. |

Plot Keywords:

High School | Basketball | Native American

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

James McDaniel	...	Kenny Williams
Irene Bedard	...	Annie Shorty
Delanna Studi	...	Carla McKinney
Misty Upham	...	Shirleen
Eddie Spears	...	Franklin
Cody Lightning	...	Dwayne
Geraldine Keams	...	Mother Tsosie
Michael Flynn	...	Homer Horton
Fraya Aspaas-Montoya	...	Francie
Trini King	...	Alvina 'Baby' Tsosie
Deanna Taushi Allison	...	Marissa (as Deanna Allison)
Tim Daly	...	Leroy McKinney
Wes Studi	...	Cuch
Reb Fleming	...	Stellar Dodge (as Reb Flemming)
Lyle Bahazoni	...	Jasper

Also Known As:

On the Edge (Europe: English title)

Runtime:

USA:105 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Company:

Showtime

Goofs:

Continuity: In the radio room when Mr. Williams comes in Dwayne switches off the radio on one board. Then a few moments later after Mr. Williams comes back with the class you can see Dwayne using the same board for music. Yet later, after Mr. Williams gets the class to agree to his idea, Dwayne uses the wrong board, the one on his other side, to turn the radio back on.

Quotes:

Kenny Williams: Okay Cuch, why'd you bring me all the way up here?
Cuch: You're standing at the center of two worlds.
Kenny Williams: Yeah, well, I thought I left that other world behind.
Cuch: Well don't look through their eyes, look through your eyes. From here you can see forever - the past, the present, the future. See, the Creator scattered us to the four winds so we could prove that we're human by finding our way home.
Kenny Williams: Well, always trying to find your way home can make a man crazy.
Cuch: Hmmh, sometimes you have to go all the way around the world to find your way, and sometimes you've got to put pride aside to get there. Me, I'm home.
Kenny Williams: This is like, what, a sacred site or something?
Cuch: This?
[chuckles]
Cuch: This is just a big rock.
[...]

Hoosiers on the Rez

Killer premise: Black male teacher is recruited suddenly to teach English at an Indian reservation high school and takes over as coach of the hapless girls basketball team. Chris Eyre is a talented director. (He actually reprises the reservation DJ commentary that was so funny in Smoke Signals.) This is Hoosiers on the Rez.

I love Eyre's movies because they are thoughtful, funny and compassionate, and always force us to consider people in a new light. He does an extraordinary job of exposing us to the good and the bad in Indian country, and I walk away from his films both enlightened and uplifted.