Disclaimer: I attended a media preview at no cost.
McFarland, USA is now playing in theatres everywhere!!!
SYNOPSIS:
Based
on the 1987 true story, “McFarland, USA” follows novice runners from
McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s
farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a
cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin
Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. Coach
White and the McFarland students have a lot to learn about each
other but when White starts to realize the boys’ exceptional running
ability, things begin to change. Soon something beyond their physical
gifts becomes apparent—the power of family relationships, their
unwavering commitment to one another and their incredible
work ethic. With grit and determination, the unlikely band of runners
eventually overcomes the odds to forge not only a championship
cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well. Along the way, Coach
White realizes that his family finally found a place
to call home and both he and his team achieve their own kind of
American dream.
FUN FACTS:
“McFarland
, USA
” is inspired by
a
1987
true story, in which
an unlikely band of
inexperienced, under
-
equipped
,
young Latino
runners
with exceptional
determination
rise
to
become cross
-
country
state champions under the
leadership of
their coach,
Jim White.
Over the years since then, the McFarland
High School cross
-
country teams have won nine state championships
and the
small
school is considered a powerhouse in the sport.
Coach
Jim White is retired now, but if you go to McFarland, chances are you will
see him
out there on his bike,
keeping up
with the kids every evening
with
a lot
of
his
original team
running alongside as well. White retired in 2002 after
teaching in McFarland schools for
40
years
and coaching for
25 years.
A
number of the original runners
on the championship 1987 cross
-
country team
became
educators
in
the
McFarland
school district
. The
former teammates are
not only
working in their
home
town,
but also
raising their families
there
and
actively supporting the cross
-
country teams of today
by coaching, helping out
with the meets
and practices
and
donating goods or money so the teams have
what they need.
Three out of the seven
young
actors
on the team
in the movie are from
the
McFarland
area
—
Sergio Avelar who plays
Victor
Puentes
and Michael Aguero,
cast as Damacio
Diaz,
are actual runners and Ramiro Rodriguez, as Danny
Diaz
,
was
a champion soccer player.
McFARLAND, USA is rated PG