Filmmaker Steve James’ most recent work, “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” is about one of the greatest basketball players of a generation. And, at the same time, it is not.
“No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson”
Where: AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Info: $10 general admission; 301-495-6720; afi.com/silver. Film is 80 minutes and is not rated. Steve James will be in attendance.
“No Crossover,” part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series of film documentaries, is the story of Iverson’s involvement in a 1993 fight at a bowling alley in Hampton, Va. But more importantly, it is a film about the racial tension and divide that surrounded the incident 17 years ago.
“No Crossover” screens Monday at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, with James in attendance. The film airs on ESPN on April 13.
“I thought it would make a compelling, interesting film,” James said during a recent phone interview. James, who is best known for the film “Hoop Dreams,” also is from Hampton, but was living in Chicago at the time of the fight. He first heard about what was taking place from his parents, long before the likes of Tom Brokaw started covering the story.
“I was hearing about it before it became a national story,” he said. “I was fascinated by what was going on.”
In February 1993, the then 17-year-old Iverson, a star on the Bethel High School basketball team, went bowling in Hampton with a group of friends. A fight broke out between the young black students and a group of older white men. Iverson and three others ended up in jail, and racial tensions flared.
“I felt it would be relevant today,” James said of why he wanted to approach this subject. Though the Hampton fight took place nearly two decades ago, the tensions then can still be found today. “It’s something we’re not out of the woods yet.”
While the 35-year-old Iverson, who ultimately went on to play for Georgetown and star in the NBA, is the main character of “No Crossover,” the film is more about race in Hampton.
“It’s a film about the community,” James said.
Iverson did not sit with James for an interview for this film. The director said he hopes the film shines some light on Iverson, who during his career has both been named an NBA Most Valuable Player and arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, among other highlights and lowlights.
“I think it does,” James said. “I have people tell me they understand Iverson better because of the film.”
James was struck at how raw the wounds of the events of 1993 still are. The filmmaker concedes that had he not been from the area, he might not have been able to get as many of the reluctant interviews as he did. He said he appreciates the honesty and access that he got from the dozens of people he spoke with.
“So far, of the people who have seen it, they feel the film was balanced and fair and accurate of what was going on,” he said.
While the subject matter is complicated and incendiary, James passes no judgment on the events of 1993, or of Iverson himself.
“I didn’t set out to exonerate or condemn him,” James said. “I set out to understand.”
