I saw this trailer today for this film called “Footplay”. (click link to view trailer and to donate cash).
It’s the story of two soccer players Gwendolyn and Luke who decided to travel the world in search of pickup games.
At first, I was turned off by these young rich kids moaning about their soccer careers gone south post college. But after I got past all the exposition and watched them bribe their ways into a Bolivian prison to play a pickup game with inmates, my attention was peaked. The interviews with the inmates are heartbreakingly great.
The photography throughout is stunning. Editing is good, not great. The sound is still a little rough. But good goodness, it’s amazing. I’m not sure how the trailer qualifies as a trailer. It’s almost as long as a sitcom at 15:30. By the end of the trailer, I’m rooting for the Gwendolyn and Luke, hoping desperately that what they learned and what they have to show is how humanity is intertwined and connected more than anyone ever imagined.
If I were to call something “The Lord’s Work”, this would be it. Say no to salvation or afterlife. Give me humanity and all its grit. Give me body odor, a muddy pit and a soccer field from a recycled garbage dump somewhere in Africa. Give me all creeds harmonizing (for the most part) over the joy of sport.
Fuck war and spreading democracy. Give me humanism and good charity. Show me a soccer game and splitting a coke after the game.
There’s payoff at the end when Gwendolyn is saying goodbye to other players after a match. She turns to someone off camera and says, “Do they kiss in this country?” She then goes and cheek kisses the three people on camera. Oh my. That was an incredible moment. That is the embodiment of one earth. I got really emotional about that scene. It showed arc of character, and it’s just a fucking trailer for a documentary.
This movie will be heavenly.
Le Café Wittypoots 