SummaryAfter leading the USSR to a gold medal (and victory over the U.S.A.) at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Sarunas Marciulionis and Arvydas Sabonis were poster boys for their oppressor’s sports machine. Four year later, after the fall of the Soviet Union, they emerged as symbols of democracy, helping their country break free from the shackles of Communi... Read More
Directed By:Marius A. Markevicius
Written By:Marius A. Markevicius, Jon Weinbach
The Other Dream Team
Metascore
Generally Favorable
69
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.8
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
73% Positive
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
27% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Oct 11, 2012
100
It would have been enough for The Other Dream Team to simply pay tribute to the tie-dyed underdogs, but the filmmakers strived for more. Adding detailed historical context, the quirky feel-good story becomes a tragedy and a lesson. And that makes the victories resonate even more.
User score
Universal Acclaim
78% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
22% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Oct 6, 2012
10
The audience I just saw this film with broke out into applause at the end of it. Through the story of these four basketball players, you're not just learning about the modern history of Lithuania, you find yourself developing a deep sense of pride in a country you've probably never traveled to. I'm not a history buff, I'm not a basketball fan, but I absolutely loved this film.
Oct 1, 2012
10
Outanding film - and how refreshing to see a massive group of independence movement protesters who can do it with dignity and class rather than as a collection of violent mobs. Great to see Sabonis and the rest of the big 4 Lithuanians from the 88 Soviet team get a chance to do it as an independent country in 92.
Oct 11, 2012
75
Clearly, there's a story here. The documentary The Other Dream Team tells it in a smart, lively, if somewhat hectic fashion.
Oct 4, 2012
75
The documentary offers a fascinating and heartfelt examination of history through the microcosm of one sport.
Sep 25, 2012
70
Watching Sabonis and company deliver comeuppance to their former rulers on the hardwood, I fully expect The Other Dream Team to join "Do You Believe in Miracles?" and "Undefeated" in your inspirational-sports-doc rotation.
Sep 24, 2012
60
Draws on archival footage and firsthand accounts from both players and outside observers to reveal the complex interaction of politics and athletics that colored the Euro-on-Euro competition.
Sep 25, 2012
50
Made with considerable reverence, but it doesn't quite manage to tow a tricky tonal line that's required when working with such sensitive and complicated material.
Oct 1, 2012
9
A fantastic athletic/historic documentary - add a point or 2 to my score if you were at least a teenager in the late 80's and like either basketball or the Grateful Dead. It's pretty amazing what these players went through as late as 1991 - going from breadlines to the penthouse, but fearing a permanent trip to Siberia if the wrong party leader looked at you the wrong way.
Production Company:
- Sorrento Productions
- Berliner 76 Entertainment
Release Date:Sep 28, 2012
Duration:1 h 29 m
Tagline:Most Olympians dream of gold... Their dream was freedom.
Awards
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
PGA Awards
• 1 Nomination
Sheffield International Documentary Festival
• 1 Nomination
