McFarland, USA

Coach Jim White, forced out of his job in Idaho after an incident, moves to McFarland in California. Most of his students are Latino and come to school after picking in the fields at dawn. White notices how they can run and starts a cross country programme. In 1987 the team wins the state championship. Niki Caro directed. Kevin Costner plays Jim White. The story is true. Caro acknowledged the film's inventions. White's real employment history is not as shown, the girls' team was left out and the rivalry is fictional. The real Jim White coached for twenty-three years, retired in 2003, and his teams won nine state titles over fourteen years. It took 45.7 million dollars worldwide, opening with 11 million. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 80 percent, the consensus saying Disney's inspirational sports formula may be old hat but still works. The CinemaScore grade was an A. Who it is for: viewers who like sports films built on real events and want to see the daily life of migrant working families. Who it is not for: anyone uneasy with the white coach saving minority students template. The film sits squarely inside it.