The world of sport was portrayed in numerous films on the big screen. However, the presence of soccer is much less prominent in film history. the cinema of hollywoodWith very few exceptions, he considered “soccer” to be a sporting discipline that was not very popular in American culture compared to baseball, basketball, American football, or boxing.
On the other hand, since the beginning of the golden age of national cinema, local films addressed the theme of the game, reflecting the popular idiosyncrasy, both as the center of the story or tangentially. Black and white classics like “Rag Ball” by Leopoldo Torre Ríos (1948) and “The Fan” by Manuel Romero (1951), starring santos discepolowere the first projections in relation to the ball, which would continue with testimonial films such as “Argentine Soccer” by Víctor Dinenzon (1990) and “The road to San Diego” by Carlos Sorin (2004).
A trend that other countries, also with a soccer tradition, tried to develop with very successful productions. Europe, Latin America, and even Asia, were the regions that proposed the most recognized and recommendable films. It is for this reason that the feature films that successfully led the world of the ball in the eyes of the public and critics have greater global roots. From gag comedy to archival documentary, dramatic epic and children’s animation, passion for soccer is manifested in five must-see films.
The Chanfle (1979)
One of the most outstanding characteristics of this production is that all the actors who worked with Roberto Gomez Bolanosin the programs of El Chavo del 8 and El Chapulín Colorado. The film brought together the most complete cast that ever surrounded the own chespiritoWith the performance of Carlos Villagran (actor recognized for his character Quico), Ramon Valdes (Mr Ramon) Raul Chato Padilla (Jaimito the Postman) and Florinda Mezaamong other actors from the Mexican television comedy series.
The chanfle (played by Roberto Gómez Bolaños) is the prop man for the Club América soccer team, he is married to Tere (Florinda Meza) and they have been married for about ten years, but despite this they have not been able to have children. Extraordinary circumstances force him to be part of the soccer team, playing the final on the field as a striker, the same day his daughter would be born. A story, in a humorous tone, that would have its second part four years later.
Escape to Victory (1981)
A true pearl in American cinema that could not be matched or replicated in current Hollywood productions was the film “Victory” (translated as “Escape to Victory”) by renowned filmmaker John Huston. Director of “The Maltese Falcon” Y “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” brought together an all-star cast of actors and soccer players in this war drama set in the second world warhe.
The characters played by the actors Michael CaineSylvester Stallonealong with the footballers peelthe Argentinian squirrels and English Bobby Moorecarry out an escape from a prison camp in the middle of a soccer game against their Nazi penitentiaries, commanded by the German officer Von Steiner (max von sydow).
Heroes (1987)
The British documentary that recalls the epic of the Argentine team in the Soccer World Cup in Mexico 1986 it is one of the archival records enshrined in the viewer’s memory. The film begins by recounting the catastrophic Mexican earthquake of 1985 and continues by describing the participation of international soccer players in the native language of each nation.
The film features renowned athletes such as Diego Maradona, Preben Elkjær Larsen from denmark, Enzo FrancescoI from Uruguay, michel platini from France and Gary Lineker from England. The musical leitmotiv was “A Special Kind of Hero”written by the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman and performed by Stephanie Lawrence. For Hispano-America it was used as the main theme “You give me more every day” interpreted by valerie lynch. A sequel to the film, with a different ending, would be made in the context of the 1990 Soccer World Cup in Italy.
Shaolin Soccer (2001)
A gem of Chinese cinema, produced in Hong Kong, is “Shaolin soccer” (“Football Kung Fu”) found in the catalog of the streaming platform Netflix. Directed and starring Stephen ChowIn a comedy key, the story describes the lives of two ex-soccer players who have rivaled their team of clubs over the decades.
The particularity of the tape is generated by including, in the teams, players with training in the Chinese martial art par excellence: Kung Fu. The successive soccer matches are combined with the acrobatic talent of the Asian warrior discipline, with numerous and funny winks to the viewer.
Foosball (2013)
The 3D animated project, directed by John Joseph Campanellawas the first animation genre film to open the San Sebastian Film Festival of 2013. It is inspired by the story “Memories of a right wing” of Roberto Fontanarrosawith an adaptation of Eduardo Sacheriwho worked together with the director on the script.
A table football game between two young rivals is the starting point of a story of heroism and struggle over the years, in which the dolls are the animated protagonists of the match. With a sophisticated animation, the Argentine-Spanish co-production included in its cast figures such as Pablo Rago, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Fabián Gianola, Coco Sily, Horacio Fontova, Diego Ramos and Marcos Mundstock.
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