From the Rough

From the Rough

Year: 2013

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Pierre Bagley

Drama

It’s all about believing. The coach of a women’s swim team parlays her success into an opportunity to build her school’s men’s golf team.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen From the Rough yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – From the Rough (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of From the Rough (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Tennessee State University

The film centers on the university campus and its athletics program as a new men's golf team is launched. It highlights the environment of training facilities, administrative offices, and student life surrounding a college athletic department.

🎓 University 🏟️ Athletics 🌍 Campus life

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:39

Main Characters – From the Rough (2013)

Meet the key characters of From the Rough (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Catana Starks (Taraji P. Henson)

A determined college coach who shifts from coaching swimming to leading a brand-new men's golf team. She fights for funding, builds trust with her players, and uses personal stories to guide them through conflicts and setbacks. Her resilience and belief in the power of diversity drive the team's early attempts toward success.

🎓 Mentor 💪 Determined 🌍 Inclusive

Craig (Robert Bailey Jr.)

A talented former caddy who becomes the backbone of the team. He battles self-doubt and pressure while learning to stand out through teamwork rather than individual effort. His growth anchors the group as they face early defeats and growing pains.

🏆 Talented 🤝 Reliable 🧭 Strategic

Edward (Tom Felton)

A dismissive newcomer from London who initially mocks the idea of a golf team led by someone with no golf experience. He has a developing crush on Stacey, and over time he sheds bravado to contribute to the team's success.

🎭 Skeptical 💼 Ambitious 🧭 Curious

Ji-Kyung (Justin Chon)

A player from South Korea who joins the group to form a global mix of talent. He brings discipline and a different perspective to golf technique, helping broaden the team's approach.

🗺️ International 🧠 Disciplined 🏌️ Focused

Cameron (Paul Hodge)

A talented player from Australia whose shellfish allergy becomes a key plot point, removing him from competition at a critical moment. His presence reinforces the theme of relying on the team rather than any single member.

🌏 International 🧪 Sensitive 🧭 Team player

Bassam (Ben Youcef)

An Algerian recruit with a volatile temper who challenges the group and adds intensity to practice. His passion, when channeled properly, helps push the team toward stronger performances.

🔥 Temperamental 🧩 Dynamic 🏌️ Competitive

Stacey (LeToya Luckett)

A medical student and former member of Starks’s swim team who becomes a focal point in the group’s relationships. She navigates complicated dynamics while supporting the team and seeking guidance in her own life.

💃 Leader 💖 Empathetic 🎯 Focused

Kendrick Paulsen Jr. (Henry Simmons)

The school administrator who pushes to control the program and ultimately fires Starks. His decisions highlight the tensions between budget constraints, ambition, and the value of leadership.

🏛️ Administrator ⚖️ Pragmatic 🧭 Ambitious

Roger (Michael Clarke Duncan)

A janitor and former football teammate of Paulsen who offers a grounded, wise perspective. He reminds the team that respect and trust must be earned and helps shift the campus-wide view on leadership.

🧭 Counselor 👥 Wise 🏃‍♂️ Supportive

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:39

Major Themes – From the Rough (2013)

Explore the central themes of From the Rough (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌍 Diversity

The story uses the multinational roster to explore how diverse backgrounds strengthen a team when mutual respect and open communication are cultivated. Starks deliberately recruits from varied corners of the world to broaden the talent pool and challenge stereotypes. The group learns to translate different approaches into a cohesive game plan, balancing egos with shared goals.

🤝 Teamwork

Under Starks's leadership, the players learn to trust one another, blending individual skills into a coordinated effort. They face early missteps and mockery, but persist through grueling practice and constructive feedback. The dynamic shifts from competition to collaboration as common purpose overrides personal differences.

🎯 Perseverance

Funding shortfalls and administrative pressure test the team's resolve as they navigate a fragile program. A devastating early result underscores the need for perseverance and unity. The Minority Championships become a proving ground where effort and teamwork are rewarded over raw talent.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:39

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Coach Building a Found Family Team Movies like From the Rough

An inspiring leader forges a cohesive team from a group of diverse underdogs.Find more movies like From the Rough that feature an inspiring coach uniting a group of underdogs. If you enjoyed the heartfelt team-building and leadership in this sports drama, you'll love these stories about mentorship and forging a found family against the odds.

inspiringteamworkunderdogheartfeltdeterminedfound familyleadership

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a linear path from recruitment and initial friction to training, bonding, and culminating in a significant (though not necessarily championship) victory that validates the team's growth. The central conflict revolves around internal dynamics and external skepticism rather than a purely villainous opponent.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the transformative power of mentorship and teamwork. They consistently feature a hopeful tone, a steady pace focused on character development, and a heartfelt emotional core centered on building collective strength from individual diversity.

Hopeful and Steady Underdog Movies similar to From the Rough

Uplifting stories where perseverance and optimism lead to a well-earned victory.Discover more uplifting underdog stories with a pace and tone similar to From the Rough. If you liked the film's optimistic spirit and straightforward, rewarding journey, these movies deliver the same feel-good experience of overcoming adversity through determination.

hopefulunderdoginspiringoptimisticperseverancefeel-goodsteadytriumphant

Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a clear, predictable structure where challenges are presented and systematically overcome through hard work and integrity. The emotional arc is one of steady buildup, avoiding major twists or deep despair, and instead focusing on incremental progress that leads to a fulfilling and unambiguous success.

Why These Movies?

They are united by a specific emotional mix: a medium intensity that keeps you engaged without causing anxiety, a steadfastly hopeful tone that wards off cynicism, and a pacing that feels comfortable and rewarding. This creates a reliably uplifting and inspirational viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of From the Rough

Don't stop at just watching — explore From the Rough in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what From the Rough is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

From the Rough Summary

Read a complete plot summary of From the Rough, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

From the Rough Summary

From the Rough Timeline

Track the full timeline of From the Rough with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

From the Rough Timeline

From the Rough Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of From the Rough that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

From the Rough Spoiler-Free Summary

More About From the Rough

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about From the Rough: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About From the Rough