THROUGH THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDAR
Special Features: Q&A with director Maya Washington
A play on the Michigan State University fight song, THROUGH THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDAR follows the 50-year legacy of the filmmaker's father. Legendary Vikings wide receiver Gene Washington (College Football Hall of Fame, Big Ten Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award, Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame, 50 Greatest Vikings Honoree) journeys from the segregated south to MSU alongside highly decorated teammates Bubba Smith (defensive lineman), George Webster (rover back) and Clinton Jones (running back) as they become members of the first fully integrated football team in America, later making history as first-round picks in the 1967 draft. The film unfolds through the eyes of the filmmaker, Maya Washington, Gene's youngest daughter, as she uncovers her father's story and the impact of his legacy on the present generation. Maya traces her father's footsteps from the segregated south to the north, over the course of a modern football season. As she uncovers both the triumphs and defeats of her father's team, she develops a new appreciation for the game of football and a deeper connection to her father, just in time to witness the MSU Spartans ascend to national prominence, 50 years after her father played there. DIR/SCR/PROD Maya Washington. U.S., 2018, color, 69 min. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 69 Minutes
Opening Date: Sunday, July 01, 2018
Genre: Documentary - sports