Once Brothers

Yugoslavia won the 1990 world championship with a team including Divac, a Serb, and Petrović, a Croat. After the final, Divac pulled a Croatian flag from a fan, an act that was seen in Croatia as a political statement.

As the country descended into war, the friendship ended. Divac says he tried to reconcile, but Petrović would not speak with him.

Petrović died in a car accident in Germany in 1993, at age 28, before the two could repair their relationship.

The film reflects on loss, nationalism and the role of sport in a divided region.

For international sport professionals, Once Brothers shows how political events can affect athletes and national teams.

It also illustrates the globalisation of the NBA, as European players opened the way for later international stars.

Sport diplomacy and peace-building programmes can use the film to discuss sport's ability to unite and divide.

Watch Once Brothers if you are interested in international basketball, sport and politics, or athlete stories.

This Shelf feature reflects the film's story and themes; it is not a scene-by-scene review.