The Basket (2000)

Peter Coyote and Karen Allen deliver heartfelt performances in this poignant family drama that explores basketball's ability to unite a community fractured by war. Set in 1918, the wheat-farming town of Waterville, Washington, faces the harsh aftermath of World War I when its first wounded soldier returns home. As tensions rise against two German orphans, a new schoolteacher named Martin introduces basketball to the town, hoping to bridge divides and foster understanding. "The Basket" blends sports excitement with a powerful narrative of resilience and hope, making it a compelling story about overcoming adversity.