[CorneringArtist]

School Wars: Hero

Very niche Japanese drama film based on the true story of a ex-Japanese national rugby team player becoming the coach of a high school team comprised mostly of undisciplined (read: borderline bosozoku) students circa 1974, who go on to win their prefectural championship after changing themselves. This one hit home for me because it nearly paralleled my own high school rugby team (comprised of kids with behaviour problems, but we took second place at the Fraser Valley championship, the first rugby award at my school since 1989). The actual rugby played isn't hammed up or exaggerated at all, and I'll have to admit, I shed a few tears at some points because the story gets heartwrenching. Manliest tearjerker I've ever watched.

9/10 because some parts of the plot seemed a bit oversimplified.