Colpo di stadio

The title of this film is a play on words. By adding an "i" to the expression coup d'etat (government throw over)in a few Latin languages, "coup d'etat" becomes "coup de stade" or stadium throw over. Unfortunately, the impact of its title, the first of the many "coups" this film throws, is lost in English. Nevertheless, this award-winning European-Colombian co-production, and the most successful Colombian film ever, is full of other satire that is easy to understand: intelligent, and hilarious. Soccer (football), as usual the common denominator of people worldwide except in the US, serves as the pretense to dish out most of the most notorious social problems in the country. Exploitation by multi nationals, these companies complicity with the guerrillas and thus with the drug lords, the innocence of the common people who are most affected by these forces beyond their control, corruption, prostitution, poverty, and the like, are actually made quite funny. Much needed by the country's population as comic relief, this movie is a scathing political and social satire of all the parties involved in the nation's seemingly unsurmountable problems. A great cast play out a dynamite script in the hinterlands of the country where all the different forces interact. What brings them "together" is their passion for soccer, and in this film, finding a way to see the 1994 qualifying match between the Colombian national team and Argentina rises above all differences, to become the top priority. A riot!

Set in Colombia 1993 , at the time of the pre-selections for the 1994 Football World Cup, a small town located in the LLanos in southeastern Colombia, a short distance from Buenavista, the euphoria for soccer triggers a terrible incident that destroys the only two televisions in the area . Nearby, a geological research camp for an oil company has been set up by the Americans , which is immediately targeted by the guerrillas . An oil company has set up a camp for geological research in a small village in Colombia that has been named New Texas so it becomes the target of the guerrillas holding constant clashes with Colombian army in the area. The confrontation is altered in the interest of the sides of continuing the transmission of the world Cup qualifiers of U. S. 94 , resulting in a brief peace between Guerrilla leaders Carlos (Nicolás Montero) , his lover María (Emma Suárez) and army sergeant Garcia (César Mora) to get their peaceful purports . Given the absence of television sets with which to watch the next match of the national team against Argentina, soldiers and guerrillas join forces in a truce to solve the complicated situation .

A diverting comedy by the Colombian director Sergio Cabrera who once again uses irony to reflect on the social situation in his country and in which both sides end up doing together to watch the match between Colombia and the National Team Selection in Argentina , while remaining the only TV set working in the little town. The dramatic confrontation between the Colombian troops and the forces of the guerrilla takes an almost utopian turn here by proposing to laugh at the closest horror with a simple story starring very human characters. After directing the popular ¨Ilona arrives with Rain¨and ¨La Strategy of the Snail¨ Sergio Cabreara this ¨Golpe de estadio¨(1998) takes soccer or football as a social phenomenon capable of mobilizing completely antagonistic groups and uniting them in a common cause, such as the patriotism generated by national team matches against a world championship match . Spanish actress Emma Suarez (Tu Nombre Envenena Los Sueños , El Perro Del Hortelano) leads the cast of this international co-production in which Colombian actors such as Nicolas Montero , Cesar Mora , Spanish comedian Raul Sender and Italian Andrea Giordana as a Stingers vendor take part giving enjoyable interpretations , as well as Juana Acosta's film debut as an escort .

The motion picture produced by Gerardo Herrero was professionally directed by Sergio Cabrera , though it has some flaws , gaps and failures. It was Colombia's official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 72nd Academy Awards , and won some prizes and nominations , such as : Goya Awards 2000 Nominee Goya Best Spanish Language Foreign Film and Havana Film Festival 1999 Winner Special Mention Best Actor César Mora . Son of Spanish exiliated actors, Sergio Cabrera lives in Colombia till 10 years before moving with his parents to China, where he attends secondary school. Then , he undertakes Studies Filmmaking in "London Politechnic School". He has worked as director six long films and more than 30 shorts, as writer, and as director and producer of more than 500 commercials. He has directed various mini-series , such as : Cuéntame cómo pasó , La Pola , Candela , Fugitiva , Escalona , Adolfo Suárez: El presidente , which have given him 15 national "Simon Bolivar" prizes , Fotogramas De Plata Awards , Iris Awards (Atv) nominations , among others . Golpe de estadio (1998) rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable.

This is not a great movie. The edition is mediocre, the camera work is kind of lousy, the music sucks definitely, the characters are too cliché and worn out and the very conception of the shots is downright amateur even though director Sergio Cabrera is an experienced film maker.

However, this film has its heart in the right place. The whimsical and joyous parade of ridiculous events satirize the war that rages in Colombia right now and exposes the real spirit of those who inhabit such a beautiful country. But most important, this film is really, really funny. Seeing this film is a catharsis for a country that unfortunately is losing the war against itself and foreign influences.

Colombia's economy, its politicians and the stigma that carries as a drug producing bunch of delinquents is the curse of a people. The only thing left for Colombians, is to laugh. And that, my friend is something the they really know how to do, because you only laugh when you have a soul full of courage!