In 2001, the Homeless World Cup was established. Each year, 70 teams of homeless men and women from all over the planet compete for world-wide recognition and to display their skills at “The Beautiful Game” of soccer.
When I first started watching this movie, I was unsure if the Homeless World Cup was a Real Thing. At the end of the movie, the credits rolled and, yes, this yearly competition is a Real Thing. It has helped 1.2 million homeless people come out of the shadows to participate in this universal street soccer event.
How did I not know about it before this???
Bill Nighy plays the coach of the Homeless Soccer team from England. All of his team struggles with problems–gambling addiction, drug addiction, abuse, depression, anxiety issues–but Nighy manages to meld these misfits into a credible team. Nighy also reaches out to a young man who is living in his car, pretending NOT to be a homeless person. Vinny Walker (Michael Ward) has excellent soccer skills, but is not a team player. It takes all of Nighy’s persuasion to get Vinny to travel with the team to Italy for the competition.
Despite continuing problems, Nighy’s team becomes one you can root for as the reasons for each member’s homelessness is revealed. Yes, my eyes got misty a few times.
Director Thea Sharrock and Screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce capture the highs and lows of troubled people trying to excel at what might be a life-changing experience. The Beautiful Game is not your typical sports movie. I’m not a soccer fan, but I got a kick out of The Beautiful Game. GRADE: B+
“How did I not know about it before this???”
Sadly, I can’t count the number of things I don’t know about. Not enough fingers and toes for one thing. More to the point…because I don’t know about them.
I’m glad I know about this now., Thanks, George.
Jerry the Homeless World Cup has been around for 20 years and I’m just hearing about it now by watching THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. I’m such a slacker!
Since Jackie is such a huge Bill Nighy fan, there is no way we were NOT going to watch this. I already have it on my list. Sounds good.
Jeff, I’m a big Bill Nighy fan, too. Nighy is deft in his role as manager of the English Homeless soccer team. He has to deal with plenty of problems!
We’re going to watch it tonight on Saturday Night Brit Night, our all-British evening every week.
Jeff, I’ll be eager to hear what you and Jackie think of THE BEAUTIFUL GAME!
I like Bill Nighy but am not a fan of soccer. Looks like fun to play (wasn’t offerred in Michigan in the 60’s) but boring to watch.
Steve, I’m not a soccer fan either. But Bill Nighy and his team held my attention.
If you combine my love of soccer with my high regard for the homeless, you’ll get my desire to watch this movie!
Bob, hope the package arrived at your mailbox today!
I was aware of the event/series, and more vaguely of the film, but haven’t yet seen it.
Alice and I attended one of the first US women’s pro league games, and I’d occasionally catch them on the Pax network broadcasts (before Pax became Ion, as it is today, much as the old women’s league has been succeeded by the new one). Women athletes do tend to catch my eye more readily.
Todd, I was just surprised something like the Homeless World Cup existed!