I didn’t know anything about Giannis before going in, but now I feel like I could probably die for him.
What it's about
An icon in the making, Giannis Antetokounmpo tells the unbelievable true story of how he overcame a difficult childhood in Greece to become one of the greatest NBA champs of all time.
The take
Giannis Antetokounmpo's rags-to-riches life story is the stuff of movies, and indeed it’s been told many times on print and screen. But this is the first time he and his family are telling it themselves, which is a big deal since Antetokounmpo, as it turns out, is inseparable from his family. Their revealing interviews about how they struggled as undocumented immigrants from Nigeria in Greece add a new, moving depth to a well-known journey, which Director Kristen Lappas wisely divides into chapters named after Greek ideals Antetokounmpo represents. Despite Lappas’ background (she is Greek-American), she makes sure to balance Antetokounmpo's heroic moments with the Greek government’s at-times unfair treatment of the athlete and other immigrants in the country. She also puts a spotlight on the pressures Antetokounmpo is going through as one of the youngest champs in NBA history. After all, at just 29 years old, he’s already a two-time MVP and playoff winner. This doc proves that the story of how he got there is no less remarkable.
What stands out
The love and unshakable loyalty Antetokounmpo feels for his family and his people, which are both his strength and Achilles heel. Also, the many funny ways people (mis)pronounce "Antetokounmpo."
Comments
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Hail Satan? (2019)
Forget everything you think you know about the Satanic Temple
8.0
Turtles All the Way Down (2024)
A sweet and relatable coming-of-age drama that brings mental health and economic realities to the fore
7.1
Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (2024)
An informative, artistic, and digestible tribute to the digestive system
7.0
Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (2024)
WWE’s best effort to pay tribute to Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda
8.5
Incendies (2011)
Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene
9.9
The Farewell (2019)
Awkwafina shines in this complex culture clash comedy.
9.1
Short Term 12 (2013)
Sweet, slow-moving, and possibly life-changing, this American drama shines the light on the chaos and crises of social work in America
9.9
Booksmart (2019)
Two academic overachievers from high school set out to prove that they're a smart and fun for one last time.
9.0
The Contestant (2023)
A breakthrough in reality TV reveals the cruel lengths the media is willing to go to in exploiting a person’s misery for entertainment
7.0
River (2023)
A delightful and ultimately life-affirming Japanese time loop comedy clearly made with love