Student Athlete

Student Athlete is a stirring and poignant documentary that pulls back the curtain on the multibillion-dollar collegiate sports industry, delving into the complex world of amateur sports in the United States. The movie was released in 2018 and features key figures such as Chris Chavannes, Shamar Graves, and Silas Nacita.

Student Athlete was directed by Trish Dalton and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who are known for their profound and thought-provoking works, tying in with the gravity of the subject at hand. This compelling film provides audiences with an introspective look at the world of college sports, powered by individual stories that confront the commercial machinery that undermines the "student" aspect of being a "student-athlete”. The prevalent narrative thread running throughout the film is an exploration of how college athletics exploit athletes for financial gain, often offering little to no compensation in return.

The film crucially explores the individual lives of four young men - including college basketball player Nick Richards, football hopeful Shamar Graves, and former Baylor football player Silas Nacita - each at a different stage in their athletic career. Their stories serve as individual case studies, providing audiences with a closer look at the various issues in the realm of college sports, such as financial exploitation, healthcare negligence, and educational disregard. Through their experiences, the film uncovers the immense pressure put on these student-athletes, where they are expected to balance their rigorous academic responsibilities while training, along with pursuing their dreams of going professional in sports.

One of the student athletes explored in the film is Chris Chavannes, the high school coach of basketball prospect Nick Richards. Chavannes offers an insider's view to the high stakes world of recruiting young talents, revealing how even at high school level, these athletes are considered more for their market value than as students.

At the same time, the film does not shy away from examining the systemic issues inherent in such a profitable industry. By juxtaposing the experiences of these athletes with discussions and candid remarks from academic scholars, policy experts, and industry insiders, it alludes to the larger societal fabric in which the college sports industry is woven.

In what might be considered the film’s heart, Shamar Graves story serves as a cautionary tale. A former football player from Rutgers University, Graves’s struggle to make ends meet after an unsuccessful attempt to reach the professional league, exposes the lack of support and security for these athletes once they leave the system.

The story of Silas Nacita, on the other hand, symbolizes a different but equally unsettling reality. As an outcast from Baylor University's football team due to an NCAA violation, Nacita's narrative paints a picture of the stringent rules and regulations that can end an athlete's career overnight.

From the high school prospects dreaming of glory to the seniors battling post-college realities, the documentary captures the different stages and challenges faced by these student-athletes. This analysis spotlights the inherent discrepancy between the luxurious lifestyle promoted by the leagues and the actual uncertainties and difficulties experienced by the athletes themselves.

What Student Athlete accomplishes as a documentary film is the humanization of the interests at hand, making it more than just a look into the more technical aspects of the big business college sports industry. It expands the perspective on this conversation and demands reform and greater equity in this sector, showcasing the compelling argument that there is more at stake than just sports.

While the film uses hard-hitting facts and thought-provoking interviews to shape its narrative, it’s the deeply personal and humble stories of the athletes that form the emotional core of the movie. In its essence, Student Athlete is a powerful examination of an industry that claims to support its athletes but often falls calamitously short in reality. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in sports, education, economics, or simply a compelling human interest story.