Ritoma

Running time: 57 mins

Taking a local basketball tournament to new heights. Few recreational opportunities exist for the nomadic people of Tibet, but basketball has become the pastime of choice for the young men who have learned the game by watching NBA games on TV when taking a break from their traditional work of herding yaks. When a former college basketball coach from the US forms a team with these men who are long on athleticism and enthusiasm, but short on strategic skills, he puts a an audacious plan into action: organize a basketball tournament among eight local teams. This beautifully told documentary, created by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang, will make you believe that anything can be accomplished, no matter how remote the chances of success. - Shari Clare Preceded by the short film: Into the Plains; dir. Chandler Ryd; Length: 24 min; Country: USA Sponsored by Applied Materials Foundation, SamTrans, and Caltrain