Quite the departure from my recent viewing, Rookie, a film from the Philippines directed by Samantha Lee, takes us into the world of high school volleyball as awkward new girl Ace tries to acclimatise to her new school and the hostility of the team captain, Jana.
That these two find common ground eventually is not really in doubt but it is quite refreshing to see high school sport used as the setting for this budding romance. My hazy memories of volleyball at school are mainly centred on my inability to serve properly. But I cannot remember receiving any coaching in the sport.
Coaching is at the heart of this film, not just from the earnest Coach Jules but her shady assistant Kel and the upholders of the mores of the school. When Jana and Ace decide to go to prom, there are issues. And the shock of the nattily attired Ace being told by a nun her outfit is not modest is too much. This girl has the soft butch look down!
The team ethos grows over time, with several of the girls providing revelations about Kel and this offers a very satisfying, if brief, revenge scene.
The climactic competition scene goes on a bit and then leads to a rather curtailed ending. But this film will give you the feels if you found school a bit awkward and wished you had asked that cutie to prom.
Rookie trailer
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