X
  • 2011
  • PG
  • Variance Films
  • 1 h 21 m
  • 2011
  • PG
  • Variance Films
  • 1 h 21 m

Summary From a basketball academy in West Africa to the high-pressure world of American prep schools, Elevate documents the extraordinary personal journeys of four particularly tall West African teenagers with big hearts, open minds, and NBA dreams. The Seeds Academy in Dakar, Senegal, sits on a small plot of land leased from the government. The...

Directed By: Anne Buford

  • 2011
  • PG
  • Variance Films
  • 1 h 21 m
  • 2011
  • PG
  • Variance Films
  • 1 h 21 m

Elevate

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Summary From a basketball academy in West Africa to the high-pressure world of American prep schools, Elevate documents the extraordinary personal journeys of four particularly tall West African teenagers with big hearts, open minds, and NBA dreams. The Seeds Academy in Dakar, Senegal, sits on a small plot of land leased from the government. The...

Directed By: Anne Buford

Where to Watch

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
63% Positive
5 Reviews
38% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
63% Positive
5 Reviews
38% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Oct 20, 2011
Mr. Fall, a former scout for the Dallas Mavericks, founded the Seeds Academy to nurture his countrymen. His conviction, level gaze and firm eloquence instill pride, drive and determination in his players. Mr. Fall, a coach on the court and in life, is the real champion here.
FULL REVIEW
80
Oct 18, 2011
Four years, two continents, and a whole lot of culture shock in the making, Anne Buford's endearing and vibrantly photographed hoop-dreams doc follows a quartet of gifted West African teens from the SEEDS Academy (Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal) as they head to the U.S. on basketball scholarships.
FULL REVIEW
80
Oct 16, 2011
Hoop dreams die hard, and the stories in Elevate are both sobering and thrilling.
FULL REVIEW
70
Nov 3, 2011
It's all presented with equal parts humor and sensitivity, though Buford doesn't much delve into the potential landmines here - racism, classism, exploitation - allowing the power of assimilation and opportunity to carry the day.
By Gary Goldstein FULL REVIEW
60
Oct 21, 2011
One of the many beautiful things about this affecting, informative doc is the opportunity it gives to see the American college sports world through different eyes.
By Joe Neumaier FULL REVIEW
50
Oct 19, 2011
Long on hopefulness but short on sobering realities, Elevate proves a compelling if superficial look at the arduous path traveled by Senegalese teens hoping to make it to America for a higher education and an NBA career.
By Nick Schager FULL REVIEW
40
Oct 18, 2011
Elevate works as a sympathetic portrait of cultural adjustment (learning in a nonnative language, sticking to Muslim dietary restrictions), but never adequately addresses the problems of what's essentially a neocolonialist system designed to shape impoverished Africans into first-world profit-makers.
FULL REVIEW

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Details

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Production Company ESPN Films, Sharp 7 Films, Sharp 7, isotopefilms
Release Date Oct 21, 2011
Duration 1 h 21 m
Rating PG
Genres
Website http://elevatethemovie.com/
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Awards

SXSW Film Festival
• 1 Nomination

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