Kauchani Bratt (UC Santa Cruz Class of 2023, philosophy) is taking in every moment.
Fresh off the world debut of “Rez Ball” at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Navajo Nation premiere, and worldwide release of the movie on Netflix, the UC Santa Cruz alumnus describes the experience as nothing short of magical.
“Rez Ball” takes place in the heart of Chuska, New Mexico, and centers around the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage. After the loss of their star player, the Chuska Warriors rely on their culture, heritage and each other to keep their dreams of a state championship alive. Directed by Sydney Freeland — a Navajo filmmaker who grew up in New Mexico — “Rez Ball” tackles complex themes of family relationships, suicide and alcoholism and is inspired by Michael Powell’s nonfiction book “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation” and The New York Times articles that laid its foundation.
After happening upon the casting call for “Rez Ball” on Instagram, which called for Native performers with basketball experience, Bratt decided to audition for a role. Bratt, who is Quechua People of Peru on his mother’s side and Coahuiltecan on his father’s side, played in reservation basketball tournaments since middle school. In high school, his team won the respected Native American Basketball invitational. Although he fit the casting criteria, Bratt had zero acting experience other than a couple of acting classes he took at UC Santa Cruz to fill a general education requirement. He submitted an audition tape hoping to become a part of the movie, even if it was a side character or a small part.
“At that moment, I realized I have to try and put myself out there, because if I don't because I'm scared to fail, then I'm not living life,” Bratt said. “So I sent off a 30-second clip of me dribbling the basketball, introducing myself, and my tribal affiliations. They got back to me and said that I could potentially be a good fit for the film.”
Out of 5,000 submissions for only 10 parts, Bratt landed the leading role in 2023.
“I never thought I would have been a lead in any movie, let alone something that's so near and dear to my heart,” Bratt said. “Growing up, I hadn't really seen anything like this movie and what it means and represents. I know that if I had seen something like this when I was younger, I would have been over the moon, and it would have filled me with a lot of pride.”
Bratt temporarily left UCSC during the 2023 spring quarter to film “Rez Ball.” Once filming wrapped that same year, he stacked five summer courses and graduated with a B.A. in philosophy.
Bratt’s higher education career started at San Jose State University right out of high school, but he decided to transfer to Cañada College to pursue basketball. After the COVID-19 shutdown paused those plans, he took it as a sign to move on from those dreams, and transferred to UC Santa Cruz to pursue a degree in philosophy.
UC Santa Cruz had always stood out to Bratt as a potential dream school. He gravitated towards the Banana Slug mascot, which drastically stood out among traditional school mascots. He loved his university experience, citing the unique culture and breathtaking campus.
“At UC Santa Cruz, we dance to the beat of our own drum, and that's the kind of person that I've always been,” Bratt said. "I wish I had been at UC Santa Cruz for all four years, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did. I had the time of my life at UC Santa Cruz, and I wouldn't have changed it for anything."
He chose to pursue philosophy to gain an understanding of himself, those around him, and to solidify his own moral code and compass. Bratt says that although he wasn’t sure what he wanted to be going into college, he knew who he wanted to be, and philosophy spoke to him.
“I wanted to study other people, how they navigate the world, how they see the world, and also I wanted to examine how I’m looking at the world. Philosophy allowed me to do that,” Bratt said. “It allowed me to understand myself a little bit more, and in doing that, it gave me the ability once something like [‘Rez Ball’] came through, to open myself up and to just go for it.”
Currently, Bratt is traveling to different events for the release of “Rez Ball” including attending the worldwide debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept 13. Attending the festival was a special and amazing experience for Bratt. From catching a glimpse of film stars like Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh to receiving a standing ovation for “Rez Ball” alongside his castmates, Bratt was over the moon.
Since landing the role in “Rez Ball,” Bratt has signed with a management company and is exploring future opportunities.
UC Santa Cruz alumnus and relative Peter Bratt (Cowell ’86, politics) emphasized the excitement surrounding his nephew’s acting debut.
“In our large, tight-knit family we’re all huge supporters of Kauchani, but there is no one more proud of him than his grandmother — our 87 year old mom,” Peter said. “Seeing her grandson on the big screen holds a special significance, not just because of how far her legacy extends from her very humble beginnings in Peru, but because it remains connected to the Indigenous identity she instilled in all of us from the beginning.”
“For Chani, it is obvious that the experience of working with other Native artists was as inspiring as it was transformative — it certainly looks like he’s caught the acting bug! ‘Rez Ball’ is not only a beautifully crafted film, it’s also an exciting entry into the growing canon of films that showcase and celebrate Indigenous peoples in all their complexity and beauty.”
Stream “Rez Ball” on Netflix starting September 27, 2024.
Kauchani Bratt (UC Santa Cruz, Cowell Class of 2023, philosophy)
