"The Long Game" is a film that captures the heart and soul of struggles and victories of minorities in the 1950s, directed by Julio Quintana. Focussing on the true story of Mustangs, a team comprised of five Mexican-American teenagers who created their own golf course for practice in South Central Texas. The crew ultimately tasted victory by bagging the 1957 Texas State High School Golf Championship. The narrative cuts deep into the era's prevailing discrimination with poignant depictions such as a sign on a Del Rio, Texas store reading “No dogs. No Mexicans.”
Jay Hernandez as JB Peña, the affable new superintendent of schools, dreams of joining a local golf club to uplift his community's social standing. However, his aspiration is thwarted by bigoted sentiments. Unfazed, JB offers a group of Latino caddies, who accidentally break his car window with a stray golf ball, an opportunity to form a school golf team instead of punishing them. The central figure among these boys, Joe (Julian Works), initially declines the offer but soon jumps onboard. Frank (Dennis Quaid), a close friend of JB and a fellow-Marine, agrees to become the assistant coach after witnessing their dedication.
Even though keen on forming a team that conforms, respects, and adheres to societal norms, JB also impresses upon them the importance of their unique identity.
The team’s journey to the State Championship is a metaphorical representation of life and its numerous challenges. Golf's long and short games symbolize patience, power, strategy, and resilience, essentially needed to face life’s trials. The story ends on a high note where the team wins a championship, a testament to their dedication, resilience, and joy in achieving and exceeding dreams.
