La grande finale

I went to see this movie after reading a couple of articles on it, and because this is a world cup year. The movie is really funny, it shows three different tribes from three different continents who live almost in exile from the "modern world" and how they stop their normal everyday routine for 90 minutes, to see two countries compete for the ultimate prize in sports, and probably the most important prize any country could aspire for, the FIFA World Cup of football. I love football, I've played it all my life, and I eagerly wait for the next World Cup even before the current one is being played. For those who don't know anything about football (or soccer, if you're from the states) you will still enjoy this movie because it's not about the sport, it's about the passion for the sport. It's amazing that for one month every four years, the world literally stops. Beer consumption goes up about 200% and for the two hours of the final, there are hardly any, if none at all, crimes committed. If you are a football fan, watch this movie, and you will understand the motivation that drives the characters. If you are not a football fan, you'll still enjoy the situations the characters get themselves into, but know this, it's not exaggerated at all, in fact, the movie was based on something that really happened to the director of the movie while shooting a documentary. It's a very original movie, and I really couldn't compare it to anything else, but if I had to mention a similar movie, I would have to say that it's a little like "The Gods Must be Crazy". So trust me, watch this film, preferably before June 9, and enjoy the World Cup this summer, remember its only for a month every 48 months.

The three plots can be a tad corny, but very colorful, valuable and humorous insights into these three native cultures, and the cinematography is truly stunning, especially the scenes in Mongolia and in the desert - not so much the Amazon rain forest, which is probably harder to capture visually...although the native warrior running through the forest with Ronaldo's jersey number 9 painted on his bare back was pretty good. The sweeping views of the Altai mountain range in Mongolia in the background, with the four hunters on their shaggy ponies carrying their golden eagles on one arm knocked me out. Also the hugely overloaded truck in the desert. Undertones of political or class conflict constitute a second common thread (besides the World Cup) that ties the three stories together.

Favorite tag line (from the Mongol storyline): "How was your day, Grandma?" "Fine as usual, my boy - another day witnessing existence in bewilderment."