The Two Escobars

"The Two Escobars" (2010 release; 104 min.) brings the parallel yet indirectly intertwined stories of Pablo Escobar and Andres Escobar (they are not related) in Colombia of the late 80s and early 90s. From humble beginnings Pablo eventually becomes the No. 1 drug king of Colombia, which is saying something. Andres, from equal humble beginnings, eventually becomes a star soccer (football) player, becoming even captain of the Colombian national team, which reaching new peaks as never before, eventually rising to the No. 4 ranking on the FIFA world rankings/. Then comes the 1994 World Cup in the US, where Colombia enters as one of the favorites...

Couple of comments: first, this movie is a riveting political and sports documentary (or is it a sports and political documentary--you decide)., you simply can't make this stuff up. It's the reason why facts always trumps fiction, and why I am such a fan of documentaries. Second, with the passage of time, this documentary, reflecting on events now 20-25 years ago, has become a great time capsule of how things where then. Check out the incredible footage of Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, in the 80s and early 90s, when the drug wars were being played out in the open, every day. Third, the movie does a great job documenting how soccer was used to money-launder drug money, creating Colombia's so-called "narco-soccer" peak in the late 80s (when Andres' team wins the Copa Libertadores, the first Colombian team to do so). At one point, Pablo, then in jail, summons the Colombian national soccer team to come play a soccer game, AT THE PRISON, and they do! It would be the equivalent of a jailed drug king summoning the Yankees for an intra-squad game of baseball, can you imagine? Last but not least, the documentary does a decent job bringing the non-sports angles (drugs and politics) of Pablo Escobar. We see him move heaven and earth to influence the Colombian parliament to abolish extradition to the US. "Sooner a grave in Colombia than a jail in the US", he comments. Wow.

This was originally released in the ESPN 30 For 30 series of documentaries, but the merits of this documentary go far beyond sports. Even if you don't care for sports or for soccer, I guarantee that you will be moved by this documentary. "The Two Escobars" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

"The Two Escobars" is quite an amazing documentary telling the story behind the world wide spread news of the Colombian football-player Andres Escobar which made an own goal in the World Championships, and later was shot. Back home in Colomiba another unrelated Escobar, Pablo, was a drug-lord, with his money into the sport, on the opposite side of the Medellin-cartel.

This documentary interviews the families, players, referees and coaches, and is very interestingly made. You don't have to care about sports to have a blast watching this.

Both came from humble poor families. Pablo becomes the drug boss of Colombia. Andres a star football star and captain of the Colombian national team, and better than ever before, going all the way to becoming the 4th best in the word according to the FIFA ranking - with drug money behind, of course. Football was a great was of money laundry. In the 1994 World Cup in the US, Colombia is therefore one of the favorites to win the whole shebang.

This film is sports, poverty, money, drugs, politics, emotions, killing and international history all in one - all in a true story. The film is full of compelling footage, both open and secretly made by surveillance-cameras and overflying spy-planes.

I've read that this was originally released as a part of the ESPN 30 For 30 series of sports documentaries, but this is far more interesting than that.

There's no doubt that the drug money made Colombia a great team, because they could train very well, without thinking about other things. Still it being drug money today ruins the teams great play somewhat in hindsight. Though the players were all innocent.

It is quite amazing how the film makers has got hold of all the people close to the two Escobars, like sisters, team mates, politicians, relatives and even Pablo Escobar's hit men!

It's impossible not to be fascinated by this documentary, and it makes you think about what's behind sports, all around. You really don't know, do you!?

What a find. Cracking documentary. Very different views from all sides but fair throughout. Definitely worth two hours of your life.