NOWITZKI. The Perfect Shot - Dallas International Film Festival

 

NOWITZKI. The Perfect Shot

Germany, 2014, 106 min., Color, English, German with English subtitles

 

The film plays Tuesday 4/14 at 7pm and Thursday 4/16 at 4:30pm as part of the Dallas International Film Fest - International Spotlight: Germany. Tix and info at dallasfilm.org

You certainly do not have to be a basketball fan to appreciate this bio-pic about the Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki. It is less about the game and more about the man and his relationship to it. It isn't an American film either so it doesn't have all the pomp that most adrenaline fueled sports films do. Coming from Germany it is more about their favorite son. They love him as their own.

The movie starts at the beginning. Much of the film is about Dirk's coach and mentor, Holger Geschwindner. This is the guy who used physics and mathematics to help create the perfect shot. He is much respected and is referred to fondly as a mad scientist. But the results speak for themselves.

There are plenty of celebrity interviews and familiar faces in here. Old teammates like Finley and Kidd plus of course the Mavericks front office. They all chime in to talk about the work ethic and focus that has made Nowitzki the player he is. Chats with family members give a more personal and intimate detail into the life of the hoopster.

But the theme that keeps coming around is the relationship with Holger and the training that goes into being a champ. Their relationship is special and at times they have their own language and it works.

After watching the film, seeing the man off the court, and hearing from those closest to him there is no doubt he is deserving of such praise and attention.