I am honored to have had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of the movie “McFarland USA,” and when I tell you that it is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, I am absolutely sincere. I believe in this movie so much, that I have come up with # reasons why you should talk your family to see this movie this weekend.

1. It’s based on a true story: McFarland USA is based on the 1987 true story of novice runners from the economically challenged town of McFarland, California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner). White is a newcomer to the predominantly Latino high school and its tight-knit community. White and his team ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy that has become part of the very fabric of the town.

2. It’s more than a sports movie. It’s a movie about the human condition: McFarland USA is more than a movie about cross-country–it takes audiences into the lives of struggling Latino families. After I attended a screening, I insisted that my children see it–especially my oldest son who is 9. We live in the LA area, and while I feel that my kids are exposed to a bit more than I was growing up in Orange County, I knew that this movie would be an eye opener for him. They don’t know much about Latino culture and have never been part of a large family–or even super tight-knit community like that in McFarland. They have also never truly understood what it means to struggle for money. We try to explain it to the boys, but I fear we fall short in providing them with the insight on how fortunate they are and how hard many people have to work to be able to enjoy life’s necessities. The idea that my kids can see what life is like in a town like a McFarland–a place very different from where we live–is just as important as any lesson they learn in school from a book.

3. Kids need to understand where their food comes from:  It’s easy for all of us to take for granted where our food comes from–or not think about it at all. McFarland USA paints a very real picture of life for California farm workers–including their youngest workers who often rise at 4a.m. to pick crops before heading to school and head back to the fields after school. My boys were floored–absolutely floored–to find out that children their very own age are allowed to pick (and often do pick) the foods on our kitchen table. My kids complain when I ask them to put away their laundry. I’ve been telling them for a long time that they have no idea how easy their lives are and this movie really showed them another side of American life they didn’t know existed.

4. The acting is superb: I have seen pretty much every movie up for an Oscar this year, and in my opinion, the acting in this movie is on par with that in all of the movies up for a trophy this season. Kevin Kostner portrays a wise-beyond-years coach trying to find his way in a new community while figuring out cross-country as he goes. His portrayal is honest and sincere. The young men who play the runners provide poignant performances full of heart and rich personality. The fact that most of them have very little to no acting experience is almost hard to believe.

5. You will be on the edge of your seat: Because of the great acting and excellent direction by Niki Caro, I was immediately engrossed in the movie, its characters and its powerful story of life in Central California. The race scenes literally had me on the edge of my seat. You aren’t just rooting for these kids to win at cross-country, you’ll be rooting for them to win in life.

This unforgettable movie is a must for all families. I personally feel it is suitable for kids of all ages–although because of the length it will likely be best for children 6 or older.