Q Ball

Name: Q Ball
Genre: Documentary

United States · 2019
1h 37m
Director Michael Tolajian
Starring
Genre Documentary

Felony convictions derailed the lives of the San Quentin Prison squad, some of them promising basketball players who are now grappling with the gravity of their crimes and reaching for redemption. The film zeroes in on an about-to-be-paroled star player who has not surrendered his NBA dreams, a lifer who has become a mentor to younger inmates, and a convicted murderer who understands his role in preparing players for life on the outside. For all three men, the team is not just a means of recreation, but a family.

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Variety by Dennis Harvey

Within its bounds, Q Ball offers proof that rehabilitative programs like this one offer more than just a chance for prisoners to show athletic excellence; they also provide an opportunity for individual growth.

The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck

Q Ball delivers a stirring and moving portrait of a program that provides inmates an opportunity to channel their energy in non-violent fashion.

The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis

As a sales pitch for an undeniably popular program, Q Ball (filmed in 2018) builds a crescendo of hope and good will. Anyone seeking a more substantive conversation on life beyond the basket, however, will have to look elsewhere.

Los Angeles Times by Michael Rechtshaffen

Far more than simply “The Longest Yard” with hoops, the remarkable Q Ball serves as a potent illustration of the redemptive powers of team camaraderie.

New York Post by Sara Stewart

Q Ball is a moving and dynamically shot portrait of the Northern California prison’s basketball team, which is sponsored by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.