I first viewed Rocks with Wings a few years ago while watching the local PBS station. It was shown at some god-awful time, probably just to fill station time. This is a great disservice since the film's content and presentation warrant a much broader viewing by the general public.
Rocks with Wings is a film not just about Native Americans, Black Americans, or any particular group of people. The movie skillfully weaves a story about people and the day-to- day obstacles faced by all people. It could document any cross section of people in America.
For me personally the fact that the filmmaker, Rick Derby, spent over twelve years in the making of Rocks with Wings demonstrates a commitment and a belief that the story about a Native American high school girls' basketball team in some small corner of New Mexico speaks volumes.
Rocks with Wings is about people of different races, of different socio-economic backgrounds, and of different cultural heritages learning about each other and overcoming the many negative preconceived notions that all these groups are associated with. The skill and determination of filmmaker Rick Derby makes Rocks with Wings the strong story that it is.
I found Rocks with Wings to be the type of film that can capture a viewer's interest and hold it firmly in its grasp. The film is able to do this with a story about a small section of American society. However, the hopes, dreams, and issues that the coach, players, and residents of Shiprock, New Mexico, have documented in the film are not uncommon to all the people living in our society today.
The film Rocks with Wings is one that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Rocks with Wings is deserving of viewing by all people.