Pelé: Birth of a Legend

An illustrious, professional commercial lasting 107 minutes and not a narrative film, not even a decent documentary, but which is enjoyable to watch, and is also short so it doesn't tire you. Whatever happens to Pelé – on his way to glory – the Zimbalist brothers direct it with the logic of a video clip. It shows apparent football flashes of high technique of the (photogenic) protagonist, but it fails to touch the greatness of this great footballer, in correspondence with the economic-political-social development of his country.
The narrative begins with his barefoot childhood, training with mangoes and respecting the traditional "jiga" style that his father taught him, how he was selected by a scout and how he finally ended up wearing, at the age of just 17, the National Team jersey. The way the football scenes are shot makes them exciting and interesting even to those who have no idea about football. Also, the good mood of the story and the face is sympathetic without becoming overly sweet. On the other hand, the dialogues are very simple and the performances come out on top.
A symbol of an entire nation, which has always seen football as a way out of the poverty of the favelas. You don't have to be a football fan to watch this film, in which the directors present the first steps of a football legend, who wouldn't have become a legend if he didn't believe in what he was doing and didn't love it for its beauty. If you're such a fanatical friend of the legendary Pele, it's enough for you just to watch something about him... 6/10!!

9/10

9/10 (infanzia)

An illustrious, professional commercial lasting 107 minutes and not a narrative film, not even a decent documentary, but which is enjoyable to watch, and is also short so it doesn't tire you. Whatever happens to Pelé – on his way to glory – the Zimbalist brothers direct it with the logic of a video clip. It shows apparent football flashes of high technique of the (photogenic) protagonist, but it fails to touch the greatness of this great footballer, in correspondence with the economic-political-social development of his country.
The narrative begins with his barefoot childhood, training with mangoes and respecting the traditional "jiga" style that his father taught him, how he was selected by a scout and how he finally ended up wearing, at the age of just 17, the National Team jersey. The way the football scenes are shot makes them exciting and interesting even to those who have no idea about football. Also, the good mood of the story and the face is sympathetic without becoming overly sweet. On the other hand, the dialogues are very simple and the performances come out on top.
A symbol of an entire nation, which has always seen football as a way out of the poverty of the favelas. You don't have to be a football fan to watch this film, in which the directors present the first steps of a football legend, who wouldn't have become a legend if he didn't believe in what he was doing and didn't love it for its beauty. If you're such a fanatical friend of the legendary Pele, it's enough for you just to watch something about him... 6/10!!

9/10

9/10 (infanzia)