Today We’re going to explain a movie based on a true story called “McFarland.”
The American football team enters the locker room after the first half of the game. The coach is dissatisfied with the team’s performance as they are hopelessly losing in front of their home crowd. He tries to motivate the players, but the team captain, always smiling, mocks the coach and doesn’t take the criticism seriously. Frustrated, the coach throws a boot and as a result, he is fired.
The coach and his entire family have to move to another city, McFarland, located near the Mexican border. The city is considered less comfortable to live in, with a predominantly Mexican population known for their hard work in agricultural fields. The hero’s name is Jim White, and he has been coaching all his life. McFarland is the only place where he could find a suitable job. His daughters are unhappy with this move and are reluctant to enter their new home. Later, they visit a local cafe but find that it only serves Mexican dishes, unlike the typical American food they are used to. The White family attracts the attention of a local gang, who stare at them and follow them to their car. Jim apologizes to his wife for the situation and assures her that he will find another job and they can leave McFarland. However, his wife understands the difficulties of constantly moving and changing schools and encourages him to stay and make the best of their situation.
On Monday, the family arrives at the local school, the daughters attend their new school, and Jim goes to the principal’s office. During their conversation, it is revealed that Jim has been fired from his job three times before, and this is his last chance for redemption. The school is facing a shortage of teachers, so in addition to coaching, Jim is assigned to teach biology and physical education. Jim accepts the offer and conducts his first class. At the beginning of the class, the mother of three students arrives and takes her children away without any explanation. Jim does not intervene, which further invites ridicule from the rest of the class. Seeing the apathy of the students, Jim challenges them to run one lap around the stadium, promising them free time afterward. The kids go for a run, and only one boy remains on the bench. He is part of the football team, so he is exempt from participating. Recognizing his potential, Jim decides to keep him on the team, contrary to the head coach’s instructions. McFarland’s team is losing the game.
On the weekend, Jim visits a local store and meets its owner. The owner suggests planting a tree in the yard for shade in the future, but Jim declines, as he doesn’t plan to stay in the city for long. While walking on the street, Jim encounters his students and wonders why they woke up so early on a day off. The students explain that they are accustomed to working in the fields with their parents, and they don’t have days off. The head coach of the school’s football team complains to the principal about Jim, leading to his removal from coaching. However, Jim remains at the school in his teaching position.
During the lesson, White observes four boys who demonstrate significantly better running skills than their peers. From this point on, the coach keeps a close eye on these boys. In the next scene, we see their daily routine. Early in the morning, the boys wake up and gather their backpacks before heading to work in the fields. After their work, they rush to school to make it in time for classes, and at the end of the day, they return home.
One day, Coach White manages to measure the average running pace of one of the boys and brings the results to the principal, suggesting the creation of a school team for competitions. These boys could be the golden ticket for the heroes, potentially leading to a new life if they succeed. White believes that their success would attract attention and open doors to prestigious opportunities, including a job offer at a private school. The final step to forming the team is to attract other teenagers to join. As a disciplinary punishment, troubled students are enlisted into the team. All the runners are assembled, and the team proceeds to their first practice. At the end of the run, White asks the boys if they have more suitable running shoes. They reveal that the shoes they have are their only ones, used for everything.
The day of the first preliminary competition approaches, and before the race, Coach White distributes the team’s uniforms and new running shoes. The McFarland students stand out among the other teams, but nobody believes in their potential for success. White explains the rules to the boys and gives them final instructions before they head to the starting line. At the beginning of the race, the boys hold on well, and at one point, Thomas even takes the lead. However, in the final stretch, a long uphill climb drains their energy, and they gradually lose their positions. The team finishes in last place, greatly disappointing the boys.
On the way back home, they remain silent, and Coach White realizes that he shoulders the blame for their defeat. He had not checked the route and had not adequately prepared the team for the challenging uphill section. Deeply affected by the loss, Coach White contemplates the disappointment before going to bed. Cheryl reminds her husband about their eldest daughter’s birthday and asks him to buy a cake for the birthday dinner the following day after work.
The next day, White takes the boys to an almond warehouse and makes them run on embankments, simulating uphill sections. The boys quickly become exhausted, but Coach White does not allow them to stop. He reminds them of the humiliating loss, and the training continues. Exhausted, they all push themselves to the end, except for Thomas, who expresses his dissatisfaction with this approach. He confronts the coach, emphasizing that the boys are not runners but simple pickers, and then he walks away, leaving the team.
White, overwhelmed by his responsibilities, forgets about his daughter’s birthday, which ruins the festive dinner for the entire family. In a conversation with Cheryl, she explains to him that their children are far more important than any work. That evening, the hero’s mood is completely ruined as the best runner leaves the team, and even his eldest daughter stops talking to him. White decides to drive around the city to collect his thoughts. On a bridge, he notices Thomas, who has just been beaten by his father and has run away from home.
White explains that he has experienced a similar situation, and Thomas calms down and steps off the railing. The heroes reconcile, and they continue training for several hours every day. Finally, the time for the qualifying races arrives. This time, the team is well-prepared and secures their first victory. This event helps the guys realize that nothing is impossible in life and that any goal is attainable with enough effort. One of the guys writes about this in her essay, and the teacher brings her work to White. Holding back tears, the teacher reads the story aloud. Gradually, the family adapts to the vibrant local life, and they discover that the residents are open and kind people from whom they can learn a lot. The team continues training and achieves three consecutive victories.
White even joins the guys in the field and helps with the harvest. The parents appreciate the coach’s efforts and organize a charity fair to raise funds. With the community’s support, they can purchase expensive uniforms and quality running shoes for the team, turning a simple school team into a source of pride for the entire city. During the next major competition, a representative from a private school approaches White with a proposal for the team to join them. White takes the business card but remains loyal to his team. He delivers a motivating speech before the race, and the guys listen attentively. Feeling confident, the team heads to the starting line. The team is well-prepared, and they handle the challenges without issue. Unfortunately, Thomas falls just before the finish line, losing several positions and missing out on the finals. To reach the top four, they need to secure a place. After the judges compare the results, they announce the winners one by one, and the McFarland team takes fourth place. This time, the heroes return home in high spirits, and as a thank you, White takes the guys to the coast, where they see the ocean for the first time in their lives.
On the weekends, White sends the girls to a beauty salon, and with the help of new friends, he prepares a surprise for his daughter. When they arrive home, Julie immediately finds herself in a festive atmosphere, allowing her father to redeem himself for ruining her birthday celebration. In a car parade, they slowly ride around the city. During this moment, they are attacked by Warren’s gang, but Julia remains safe, albeit frightened.
The next morning, White finds the business card and goes for an interview at the private school. He is offered excellent working conditions, and he informs his family about it. However, the family is against the move. McFarland has become their home, and they have found true friends there. The coach decides to stay with the team for a while.
On the day of the final race, the whole city comes out to support the guys. White delivers another motivational speech, and the team heads to the starting line. The entire future of the heroes depends on this moment. A victory would automatically grant them admission to the best universities in the country, enabling them to provide better support to their families beyond just the harvest. After a long calculation of results, the students from McFarland School become the champions of California. White is approached by representatives from the private school with a contract offer, but he turns them down.
Over the next 14 years, McFarland wins the state championship nine times. Jim White coaches every team, and all the guys receive a good education. They eventually return home and actively participate in the development of their hometown. They continue to attend joint training sessions and support their team. And with that, the movie comes to an end.
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