SCREEN
Film Feature
For Love of The Beautiful Game By John DeVore, Pulse Film Critic
C
hattanooga residents are infrequently afforded opportunities to see documentaries in the theater. Very few, if any, ever reach this fair city. Occasionally, we see something from Michael Moore or something equally as polarizing. Rarely do we see a film released in the theatres here that follows a small issue or minor group. A good documentary, however, can open the viewer to ideas, places, and people very much outside narrow worldviews, usually by showing something on society’s fringe. I would often rather see a good documentary than an Oscar-winning drama. Our country has long been leaning towards the anti-intellectual, resulting in documentaries being largely independent productions, poor moneymakers, and unseen by the masses. Fans have to seek out films, wade through dozens of possibilities, and hope for the best. But this summer, we Chattanoogans have an opportunity to see documentaries that matter. Documentaries that are different. The Chattanooga Arts and Education Council is hosting its Back Row Film series, now in its seventh season, featuring five documentary film experiences that give us “opportunities to interact with filmmakers, to see films on important subjects, talk to directors about the craft and discuss the subjects the film addresses.” The first of these films, Pelada, debuts on Thursday, May 19 at the U.S. Elite Training complex at 6246 Dayton Blvd. While Pelada isn’t a perfect film by any means, it’s effective in showing the heart of a worldwide, inclusive, and deeply loved sports culture found in the players of pick-up soccer games, often played wherever space allows. “Pelada”, the Portuguese for “naked,” is the term applied to pick-up soccer games in Brazil. Filmmakers and former soccer stars Luke Boughen and Gwendolyn Oxenham are searching for meaning after losing their status as players. Neither has lost their drive for the game, but they feel the game has left them. Gwen was a part of the national women’s league, but that league has disbanded. She focuses on creative writing, receiving a grant and waiting for the opportunity to play professionally one more time. Luke puts up billboards and contemplates law school. In an attempt to keep reality at bay, the pair begins a film about
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The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 20 | May 19, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
their sport, the sport loved and played world- simple sport, far from overpaid stars, a world wide. What they achieve is something much where people play just because they love the more special. They find a heart of competition sport. Pelada is beautiful in spite of the filmthat beats across oceans. makers’ shortcomings. Pelada is beautiful beBoughen and Oxenham are not natural cause of the passion of the players. filmmakers; the film itself is choppy and rough. What makes this a successful film is the Gwen provides an awkward running commen- honesty of the filmmakers and the simplicity tary that tends to dwell on her desire to com- of the subject. In a film with such a large stage, pete and her drive to be the best. Her personal it would be easy to lose focus. The fact that battle with her apparent professional failure is Gwen and Luke are out of their element, genmuch less interesting than the footage of the erally not speaking the language or knowing people who play the game. The focus of the the customs, allows them to immerse themfilm should be the game itself, which hapselves fully in another form of communication, pens on beaches, in back alleyways, in prisons, one that they speak fluently. Through the in slums, on high pastures, low valleys, city game they are accepted. streets, and rural African savannah. The film highlights the connectivity of the At times, I wonder if our narrator is even sport, a connectivity that brings people toaware of what she is witnessing. But the audigether. But it also shows that common ground ence is. I marveled at the skill of these players, doesn’t heal all wounds. Too often documenat the drive and desire to play anywhere and taries focus on an agenda. What makes Pelada everywhere. While our filmmakers are busy special is its lack of a message. It just shows with their own lives, a man in South Africa is spending an entire day’s salary to play on a field the world as it is. carved out of a garbage dump. Pelada Women in Iran risk punishment (first film in this season’s AEC Back Row Film for playing. Arabs and Israelis Series) bring all of their tensions with $5 them on the field. What Luke 6 p.m. (advance purchase strongly encouraged) and Gwen find is so much larger U.S. Elite Training, 6426 Dayton Blvd, than they are aware of dur(423) 267-1218. www.backrowfilms.com ing their journey. Audiences are lucky to glimpse a world of