Remember the Titans
Based on a true story, this movie is the story of an African-American coach who unites white and black football players in order to build a championship-winning school team.
The story takes place in 1971 in Virginia when T. C. Williams High School decides to hire an African-American head coach—Herman Boone—to serve as the leader of the league’s only integrated football team. Former, white head coach—Bill Yoast—reluctantly agrees to serve as Boone’s assistant coach in charge of the defensive line.
Boone decides to build team unity by requiring all of the players to attend a football boot camp where he is equally tough on all of the attendees. Any misbehavior by a player will result in that player running a mile.
Initially, white players keep to themselves and black players keep to themselves; the two races keep their distance and each race assumes that the other fosters hatred. The conflict between the races is also portrayed on a personal level between the team captain and leading defensive player, a white Gerry Bertier, and the leading offensive player, a black Julius Campbell.
As camp continues, the players bond as they commiserate and complain about Boone’s tough policies. Additionally, roommates are required to be of different races, which probably helps speed the bonding process along as well.
Although Gerry and Julius are enemies at first, the two begin to bond as strong characters attempting to build the strength of their team. As these two become close, members of the different ethnicities bond as well. At the camp’s end, the players do not see color anymore.
But how will they treat each other when thrust back into the real world where integration is not yet accepted? Will the team fall apart or maintain their brotherly bonds in order to conquer other all-white teams and to claim the state championship?
This movie is a touching, heartwarming story that shows the importance of leadership, standing up for moral values, and of overcoming the tendency to stereotype and judge. The Titans are on a journey to win the state championship, but the players, the coaches, and the T. C. Williams High School students are on a quest to overcome racism. In addition, the individuals in the movie are all on personal missions to respect and appreciate the humanity in others, regardless of race.
A fun family film, Disney’s “Remember the Titans” is a must-see that can be watched hundreds of times and still be enjoyable and worthwhile.
Written by: Jillian Brown
Reviewers Rating: 9.5
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Added: 18-Jun-2009
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