ALASKAN NETS Documentary Review

Synopsis

Alaskan Nets is set on a remote island off the coast of southeast Alaska. It is home to the Tsimshian Natives and Alaska’s last remaining native reserve, Metlakatla. For more than a century, two sacred traditions have defined Metlakatla: fishing and basketball. In an improbable journey, two cousins lead their team and town in search of their first state championship in more than thirty years—the only thing that will bring life back to an island that has been rocked by unimaginable tragedy.

The Story Behind Alaskan Nets

Actor Chris Pratt is a executive producer on this documentary. He discussed below why this meant a lot to him on his Instagram in 2021:

“Like the basketball players in our doc I know what it’s like to live in a small town defined by high school sports and supported by local blue collar industry. I didn’t play basketball. I was a wrestler and football player,” he explained.

“Lake Stevens has a string of state championships and I know first hand the pressures that come with carrying that legacy into a season. This wonderful doc examines how small town expectations can like the weight of the whole world on a young man’s shoulders.”

“If we look around we realize we’re going through a dark period and I believe people need stories like these.”

“Stories that don’t shy away from the hardships we all face every day, that ultimately uplift and inspire us to persevere, and never lose hope,”

We the viewers go on the journey with the players and their families. Here the spotlight is shone on a community we don’t often see. We start to understand the experiences that are not always shown to the world. No glitz, no glamour this is no fictional Hollywood sports tale. Instead this is the grit, determination, and real-lives of a proud people with hopes, aspirations and dreams. They are just like everyone else. We also see the difficulties of achieving those dreams without all the resources that others may have with the social and economic disadvantages that brings. But it also unity helps bring this small town together despite its different adversity and hardships.

Check out the Official Alaskan Nets website here

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