"Hellfighters" is an ESPN film about an unusual high school football team from Harlem. This is because they DON'T have a school or home field! This is because high schools in Harlem don't have a team for promising players and an ex-NFL player (Duke Fergerson) has created a team which has qualified to join the league and play against high school teams in the New York area. Using a hand-held camera, the filmmakers follow the coach and his players during the course of a season. Then, at the end, there is a brief follow up on a few of the most promising of these players.
For the most part, this is an enjoyable and inspirational film. I found myself very interested in these kids' lives--as did my wife--who enjoyed the film and doesn't even like sports! However, the film isn't perfect. It could have used a bit of narration to explain what was happening and explaining the context. You really learn NOTHING about how Fergerson became the head coach as well as what the controversies were about--such as why several coaches were fired and why the NFL stopped funding the team. As these were VERY important parts of the film, what was NOT said is important. In other words, they show a disgruntled ex-coach and mention, at the end, that the NFL stopped funding this project...but why?! I would adore some followup or information about the team and coach--as well as players who went on to promising college careers (quite a few did go on to Ivy league and top schools AFTER the film was made). Overall, it's good but missing key details that might have made it great.
For the most part, this is an enjoyable and inspirational film. I found myself very interested in these kids' lives--as did my wife--who enjoyed the film and doesn't even like sports! However, the film isn't perfect. It could have used a bit of narration to explain what was happening and explaining the context. You really learn NOTHING about how Fergerson became the head coach as well as what the controversies were about--such as why several coaches were fired and why the NFL stopped funding the team. As these were VERY important parts of the film, what was NOT said is important. In other words, they show a disgruntled ex-coach and mention, at the end, that the NFL stopped funding this project...but why?! I would adore some followup or information about the team and coach--as well as players who went on to promising college careers (quite a few did go on to Ivy league and top schools AFTER the film was made). Overall, it's good but missing key details that might have made it great.
