Film Review: “The Only Real Game”

“The Only Real Game” is a heartwarming, emotionally tugging film that shows baseball’s importance juxtaposed with the bad conditions in Manipur, a once princely state in northeast India which is now a troubled place.

The movie is written and directed by Mirra Bank and narrated by the superb actress, Melissa Leo.

The footage of the country complete with the ever present threat of violence from both the government police and the insurgents is fantastic.

The people interviewed include MK Binodini Devi (Imasi), the late daughter of the last monarch of Manipur. She, like so many other fascinating people revealed in the film, are for progress and hope. Baseball is a big part of that hope.

Baseball for me, as with millions of others, was a part of something beautiful in years past. My love for it has waned exponentially. Yet seeing it in its purest form and even better as transcending the great game it is,as told in this film, I again felt its beauty.

So many involved in this magnificent film deserve notice. Among them baseball teaching volunteers, Jeff Brueggemann and Dave Palese and one of the producers, Muriel “Mike” Peters

Both the organizations Harlem Rbi and First Pitch are making invaluable contributions toward the dream that conditions will improve in Manipur. Baseball is a big part of that dream as shown in this wonderful, inspirational film.