The Basket
The Basket ★★½ 1999 (PG)
There's a lot going on in a small Washington community, circa 1918. Martin Conlon (Coyote) is the new teacher (he's from Boston) at the oneroom schoolhouse who introduces opera and basketball into the curriculum. Then German orphans Helmut (Burke) and Brigitta (Willenborg) come to live with the local doctor and are persecuted for their nationality because of WWI. Mr. Emery (MacDonald) is especially hostile since his son was wounded in the war but Mrs. Emery (Allen) is willing to give the newcomers a chance. Helmut turns out to be a hoops natural and the team has a chance to compete in a national championship—if they can set their differences aside. 104m/C VHS, DVD . Karen Allen, Peter Coyote, Robert Karl Burke, Amber Willenborg, Jock MacDonald, Eric Dane, Casey Cowan, Brian Skala, Tony Lincoln, Patrick Treadway, Ellen Travolta; D: Rich Cowan; W: Rich Cowan, Frank Swoboda, Tessa Swoboda; C: Dan Heigh; M: Don Caron.