‘The Long Game’: Story of Mexican American high schoolers who became golf champs

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In 1957, a group of Mexican American high school students overcame racist barriers to win the Texas state golf championship. The story is told in the new film The Long Game.

“The Long Game” puts the true Del Rio story of the determination of young Latinos in the 1950s on the silver screen.
Great sports movies are not just about sports, but about something deeper, says Dennis Quaid — and his latest movie, “The Long Game,” is no exception.

On one level, “The Long Game” is about a team of underdogs that wins a Texas state high school golf championship against all odds.

But on another level, the movie is really about “belonging and not fitting in, and what it means to be an American, and what it takes to get that,” Quaid said

The underrepresentation of Latinos in mainstream media has long been an issue in Hollywood, and the movie is inherently a showcase of a minority history.

In the movie, JB Peña leads a group of Mexican American golf caddies to form their own team, overcome prejudices within the border town and play against their affluent white counterparts.

The film is an adaptation of “Mustang Miracle,” a book by Humberto G. Garcia, who was born in Del Rio but is now a lawyer in San Antonio.

Jay Hernandez has been attached to the “The Long Game” for years. The film, which came out last week, is based on a true story, following five high school-aged Latino golfers in the 50s. After being banned from playing golf because of their heritage, the boys band together to train and form their own golf course, a process that results in them winning a state championship. It’s a classic sports story, trailing a group of underdogs that defeat the odds, yet also serving as a mirror to America, reflecting its struggles and possibilities.

For actor José Julián, giving life to Lupe Felan was very exciting. “There were so many challenges I had to overcome portraying Lupe because he was a very complicated person. And having this opportunity, you know, filled me with a lot of excitement and responsibility,” said José Julián.

Paulina Chávez, who is originally from El Paso but raised in San Antonio, plays Daniela Torres in the movie, MySA reports.
Cheech Marin and Dennis Quaid also star in the movie.