A women’s basketball team in Iraq coached by an American. It’s a scenario that would cause ripples across diplomatic circles. No doubt then that Salaam Dunk, debut film by San Francisco director David Fine will intrigue and inspire. It’s a fascinating journey into the lives and minds of a gutsy bunch of women basketballers who defied the odds to emerge trumps, on and off the court. Safa Fadhil Jafar, the team’s former manager, will be in Mumbai tomorrow for its Indian premiere.

Talk me through the game: Player Laylan talks to coach Ryan in a still from the film