The Other Dream Team (Marius A. Markevicus, 2012 USA)

The Other Dream Team by (Marius A. Markevicus, 2012 USA)

Reviewed By Brendan Beaghler , Santa Barbara Film Festival

There are some movies that make you want to jump out of your seat and pursue your deepest athletic ambitions. A film so inspiring, so gripping, and so motivating that it makes you feel as though you can achieve any goal, no matter the obstacles. The Other Dream Team was that film for me. So if you’re also neck-deep when it comes to sports, you will definitely be glad if you ever get a chance to try gadgets like the ProTee launch monitor.

Basketball is one of my deepest passions, and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about major basketball events, teams, and history. However, after seeing this film, I realized how many inspiring stories I have yet to discover. One of my favorite basketball films was More Than a Game, which highlights NBA star LeBron James’s journey from an eighth grader to becoming an NBA player straight out of high school. But now, The Other Dream Team has become my new favorite—not just because of the journey these athletes undertook, but because of the personal and political barriers they overcame along the way.

The Other Dream Team is a documentary that chronicles the struggles and successes of four Lithuanian basketball players who were part of the 1988 gold medal-winning Soviet team. Directed by Marius A. Markevicius, the film delves into Lithuania’s fight for independence from the Soviet Union and highlights the careers of Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Arvydas Sabonis, the two key players who led the 1988 Olympic team. The documentary also features a current Lithuanian basketball star, Linas Kleiza, as he pursues his dream of being drafted into the NBA.

The film culminates in the 1992 Olympics, where Lithuania competed as an independent nation for the first time and faced the Soviet team in the bronze medal game. At the time, Lithuania was such a poor country that they had to fundraise just to participate in the Olympics. The Grateful Dead made a generous donation to help the team get there, which allowed them to make history. Winning that bronze medal against the Soviet Union was about more than just basketball—it was a political statement. For Lithuania, it was as significant as winning an NBA championship ten times over. It was proof that this small country could stand tall against the mighty Soviet Union.

In Lithuania, basketball isn’t just a sport—it’s the heart of the nation’s culture and identity. The Lithuanian people reminded me of a giant basketball team. When the Soviet Union sent troops to invade and take control of their land, the Lithuanian people, urged by their president, united as one. They flooded the capital and stood firm, refusing to let the stronger, more powerful Soviet forces take over.

The Other Dream Team is a classic underdog story, much like David and Goliath. It’s a film I can personally relate to because, in the basketball world, I am that little guy. This documentary gives me hope—not just as an athlete, but as an individual—that with hard work, dedication, and an unyielding refusal to give up, anything is possible. I know that might sound cliché, but once you see the movie, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.