Watch Q Ball

Q Ball is a 2019 documentary film about basketball and the power of sports to bring about change. The film follows the lives of a group of incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison who find hope, redemption and purpose through basketball. Directed by Michael Tolajian, the film explores the stories of these men and how basketball helps them to overcome their past mistakes, build a sense of community and find new meaning in their lives.

The film begins by introducing the audience to the inmates at San Quentin State Prison, some of whom are serving life sentences. We are taken through the different units of the prison and shown the daily routines of the inmates, including work assignments, exercise time and visits from family and friends. It is a bleak and depressing world, full of violence and isolation.

However, the film quickly shifts its focus to the basketball court, where we see the inmates form a team and start to train for a tournament against a group of outside teams. We meet some of the players, including Harry “ATL” Smith, who has been in prison for 20 years and is the team captain, Rafael Cuevas, who is serving a life sentence for murder, and Allan McIntosh, who is nearing the end of his sentence and hopes to use basketball as a way to inspire young people in his community.

As the team practices and prepares for the tournament, we learn more about the different players and their backgrounds. Some of them were star athletes in high school before getting involved in drugs or gangs, while others had never played basketball before coming to prison. But they all share a common goal: to use basketball to improve themselves and find a way to give back to their communities.

The tournament itself is the climax of the film, and it is an intense and emotional experience. The San Quentin team faces off against some of the best streetball players in Northern California, and the game is filled with drama, tension and incredible basketball skills. But more than just a game, the tournament represents a chance for the inmates to prove to themselves and to the outside world that they are more than just their past mistakes.

Q Ball is not just a basketball documentary, however. It is also a powerful exploration of the American criminal justice system and the challenges faced by those who are incarcerated. Through interviews with the players, their families, and the prison staff, we see the realities of life behind bars and the struggles faced by those who are trying to turn their lives around. We also see the impact of the criminal justice system on families and communities, and the difficult choices that many young people face when growing up in poverty and violence.

Ultimately, Q Ball is a testament to the power of sports as a tool for social change. Despite the many obstacles they face, the inmates at San Quentin use basketball as a way to build friendships, learn important life skills, and find a sense of purpose in their lives. The film is a moving and inspiring tribute to these men and to the millions of others who are struggling to overcome the stigma of incarceration and make a positive impact in their communities.

Q Ball is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 69.