The West Newton Cinema continued its run of dynamic, creative programming with a film screening and panel discussion on March 1. In time for basketball tournament season, the Cinema presented the memorable 1986 film Hoosiers.
Hoosiers, starring the late Gene Hackman, was inspired by the “Milan Miracle of 1954,” when tiny Milan High School (enrollment 161) defeated Muncie Central High School (enrollment 1,662) to win the Indiana state basketball championship.
Elevating the West Newton experience was a post-movie symposium featuring Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens, Newton North High School basketball coach John McNamara, and Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy.
Shaughnessy assembled the panel, saying “I knew that Brad might go for this because he loves this film. …It’s alarming how much he loves this film.”
The movie resonates deeply with Stevens, who grew up basketball-obsessed in the small town of Zionsville, Indiana (1990 population: 3,365). He says he has seen Hoosiers about 100 times. He played and starred in high school basketball in Indiana, and at this event he shared vivid memories of thrilling wins and heartbreaking losses in his team’s state tournament games.
Stevens and McNamara discussed coaching philosophy and the importance of coaches developing deep human relationships with the players. Stevens said, “The more that someone knows you’re in their corner, the more you can challenge them to be their best.”
Answering an audience member who asked, “When are they going to eliminate the three-point shot and get back to playing real basketball?” Stevens said, “I would say come back to West Newton Cinema and watch a rerun of Hoosiers.”
