Virtual Friday Night Films at the Wende: The Other Dream Team

As the U.S. basketball “Dream Team” took the 1992 Olympics by storm, the scrappy team from the newly independent Lithuania sought only to defeat Russia. Their tale involves personal freedom, the end of the Cold War, and, unexpectedly, the Grateful Dead. The film not only looks at the Lithuanian team but also at the broader historical events. The fall of the Soviet Union allowed Lithuania to reestablish its independence and enter the Olympics as an independent country.

The film includes interviews with many famous basketball figures, such as Arvydas Sabonis, David Stern, Jim Lampley, Bill Walton, and Šarūnas Marčiulionis. The title is an allusion to the Dream Team, the first American Olympic basketball team to feature active NBA players.

Available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Prime.

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Virtual Film Picks are inspired by the in-person Friday Night Films at the Wende program series. This selection is part of a curated list of weekly movie suggestions that can be watched at home, in conjunction with #WendeOnline.