Finding Big Country is a heartwarming and inspiring documentary that tells the story of a man's quest to find his childhood hero, Bryant Reeves, also known as Big Country. Directed by Kathleen Jayme, the film follows the journey of the filmmaker as she helps her friend, Jay Triano, a former NBA player and coach, to reconnect with Reeves, a former NBA star who played for the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1990s.
The documentary starts with Triano reminiscing about his childhood days in Canada when he used to watch Reeves play for the Grizzlies on television. Triano, a basketball coach and commentator, often talked about the impact that Big Country had on him and his love for the game. However, after Reeves retired from basketball in 2001, he became a recluse and disappeared from the public eye. Triano was left wondering what had happened to his hero and decided to embark on a quest to find him.
The film takes us on a journey through the beautiful and rugged landscapes of Western Canada as Triano and Jayme visit towns and cities where Reeves used to play. Along the way, they talk to fans, teammates, coaches, and journalists who followed Reeves' career closely. Through their conversations, we get to learn more about Reeves as a person and a basketball player. We hear stories about his humble beginnings in Arkansas, his love for hunting and fishing, and his struggles with injuries and weight issues. We also learn about the camaraderie that he shared with his teammates and the impact that he had on the fans in Vancouver.
As they travel further into the heart of Canada, Triano and Jayme begin to realize that finding Big Country is not going to be easy. They encounter dead ends and false leads, and at times, it seems like their search is futile. However, they persist, driven by the hope that they will eventually find Reeves and reconnect him with his fans.
The film is not just a search for a basketball star; it is a story about friendship, community, and the power of sports to bring people together. Triano's love for basketball and his determination to find Reeves inspire the people that they meet along the way. We see how the game has touched the lives of Canadians and how Reeves, in particular, became a symbol of hope for a city that struggled to find its place in the NBA.
The cinematography of the film is stunning, and the landscapes of Canada are captured beautifully. The interviews with the fans and the anecdotes about Reeves are engaging and entertaining. There are moments of humor, nostalgia, and poignancy that make the film an emotional rollercoaster. However, the film never strays into sentimentality, and the story remains genuine and heartfelt throughout.
Finding Big Country is a documentary that will appeal to basketball fans and non-fans alike. It is a tale of perseverance and passion, and it reminds us of the importance of chasing our dreams. The film celebrates the legacy of a basketball icon and the impact that he had on a generation of Canadians. It is a movie that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted, and it proves that sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination.
Finding Big Country is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 43 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.
