The Pistol
Reviewed by: Dale and Karen Mason
STAFF WRITERS
| Moral Rating: | Good |
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| Primary Audience: | Family (Ages 8+) |
| Genre: | Docu-drama |
| Length: | 144 min. |
| Year of Release: | 1990 |
| USA Release: |
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Don’t let the title fool you. This video is not about guns. In fact, it is not even violent. To the contrary, this is one of the best family dramas to have been released by Hollywood in the 1990s. Subtitled “The Birth of a Legend,” this is the true story of the young “Pistol” Pete Maravich. Set in the southern USA in 1959 and 1960, Pete Maravich is a 5-foot 2-inch, 90 pound nine-year-old who has a dream. Pete wants to be the best basketball player in the world. This dream has been handed down by his biggest fan, his loving father.
The appeal and beauty of this film is that it is more than a story about basketball. “The Pistol” is an inspiring reminder of how parents have the unique opportunity to “coach” and mold their children in an area of special skill or interest to the parent. All viewers will be challenged to keep pursuing their dreams and they will be encouraged by this story which shows that—with persistence and patience—even very lofty dreams can come true. Very good overall. Three instances of mildly crude language.
