The combination of tribal tradition and typical high-school peer pressure give the film a compelling subtext of real-life dramatic suspense; even as the Chiefs (a team name that's refreshingly liberated from concerns of political correctness) get closer to state-finals victory, we're left wondering if any of these boys will conquer the many obstacles that block them from a promising future. Particularly involving is the story of Beaver C'Bearing, a star player facing his last chance at a state championship, sidetracked by injury, pot-smoking, and his own uncertainty about where his life is going. Without sentiment or phony cheerleading, Junge follows Beaver and other young men, and Chiefs subtly evolves into a multifaceted portrait of life on the edge, where personal initiative and sheer chance play equal roles in forming young men who've earned, and deserve, their opportunities for success. Junge's choice of subject matter also qualifies Chiefs as one of the most revealing and authentic portraits of modern life on the reservation, where hardship and sociopolitical disadvantage is a harsh daily reality. --Jeff Shannon