Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
During the middle of a severe drought, one 19th century Indian village asks the local British magistrate for relief from the annual land tax (lagaan). Somehow, this request turns into a wager: if the villagers defeat the magistrate’s cricket team, their land tax is cancelled for three years, but if they lose, they pay triple tax this year.
There’s a romantic triangle between the white sister of the magistrate, the leader of the Indian cricket team, and his girlfriend; political commentary about the caste system; and copious musical numbers.
A four-hour musical film about cricket in 19th century India doesn’t sound like an entertaining experience; the only reason I knew about it was its place in IMDB’s list of the top 250 films of all time. Yet somehow this film works, the joy and enthusiasm of every scene sweep you away until you find yourself caring deeply about the outcome of a fictional cricket match.
H2O (1929)
This short, silent film about water was placed in the National Film Registry in 2005.
Unless you care about watching the films in the National Film Registry, you shouldn’t waste your time.
Untucked (2014)
This short, directed by Community’s Danny Pudi, follows the fashion style of the Marquette University basketball team in the 70s and early 80s and argues the decision to wear unusual jerseys contributed to their NCAA Championship in 1977.
If you’re interested in sports, it’s worth watching, but this is one of the least interesting in the 30 for 30 series.