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Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
12 May 2006 (USA)
See more »
Tagline:
Every Dream Has A Beginning
Plot:
Santiago Munez is a footballer in a regional club. He gets scouted and transferred to Newcastle United. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
1 win
&
6 nominations
See more »
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Tribeca fest unveils fare for families
(From The Hollywood Reporter. 23 March 2006)
'Charlie' still cooking in int'l tour
(From The Hollywood Reporter. 4 October 2005)
'Charlie' still cooking in int'l tour
(From The Hollywood Reporter. 2 October 2005)
(From The Hollywood Reporter. 23 March 2006)
'Charlie' still cooking in int'l tour
(From The Hollywood Reporter. 4 October 2005)
'Charlie' still cooking in int'l tour
(From The Hollywood Reporter. 2 October 2005)
User Reviews:
A Film with a Heart
See more (103 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) | Leonardo Guerra | ... | 10-Year-Old Santiago |
 | Tony Plana | ... | Hernan Munez |
 | Miriam Colon | ... | Mercedes |
 | Kuno Becker | ... | Santiago Munez |
| Jorge Cervera | ... | Cesar |
| Herman Chavas | ... | Referee |
| Alfredo Rodríguez | ... | Julio |
 | Donald Li | ... | Chinese Restaurant Manager |
| Kate Tomlinson | ... | Val |
 | Jake Johnson | ... | Tom |
 | Zachary Johnson | ... | Rory |
 | Stephen Dillane | ... | Glen Foy |
 | Sean Pertwee | ... | Barry Rankin |
| Jonathan Hernandez | ... | Armando |
 | Alessandro Nivola | ... | Gavin Harris |
| Cassandra Bell | ... | Christina |
| Rhydian Jones | ... | Sales Person |
 | Marcel Iures | ... | Erik Dornhelm |
| Christopher Connel | ... | Reporter 1 |
 | Peter Michael McGowan | ... | Reporter 2 |
| Andy Hawthorne | ... | Immigration Official 1 |
| Michael Gunn | ... | Immigration Official 2 |
| Ashlea Sanderson | ... | Girl |
| Alex Parkin-Goodchild | ... | Kid 1 |
| Calum Aynsley | ... | Kid 2 |
 | Christopher Fairbank | ... | Foghorn |
| Craig Heaney | ... | Phil |
| Jack McBride | ... | Walter |
| Robert Dixon | ... | Bobby Redfern |
 | Anna Friel | ... | Roz Harmison |
 | Kieran O'Brien | ... | Hughie McGowan |
 | Gary Lewis | ... | Mal Braithwaite |
 | Ashley Walters | ... | Carl Francis |
| Kevin Knapman | ... | Jamie Drew |
 | Lee Ross | ... | Bluto |
 | Stephen Graham | ... | Des |
| Andy Kidd | ... | Bouncer |
| Alan Shearer | ... | Himself |
| Emma Field-Rayner | ... | Lorraine |
| Martin Tyler | ... | Himself |
| Brian Lonsdale | ... | Fan |
| Glynis Brooks | ... | Cleaner 1 |
 | Maxine Evans | ... | Cleaner 2 |
| Blondell Taylor | ... | Sister |
| Daniel Maier | ... | Patient |
 | Frances Barber | ... | Carol Harmison |
| Madeleine Moffat | ... | Woman in Tower Block |
| Louis Lennie | ... | Teenager |
| Baden Burns | ... | Teenager |
| Nicholas Lumley | ... | Taxi Dispatcher |
| Mike Elliot | ... | Gordon |
 | Louise Franklin | ... | Drunk Girl |
| Leslie Randall | ... | Mr. Ives |
| Brian Johnson | ... | Himself |
 | Greg Ellis | ... | Charlie the Newcastle Fan |
| Sven-Göran Eriksson | ... | Himself |
 | David Beckham | ... | Himself |
| Raúl González | ... | Himself (as Raúl González Blanco) |
| Zinédine Zidane | ... | Himself |
 | Shivani Ghai | ... | Ground Attendant |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
 | Herman Chavez | ... | Referee |
| Danielle E. Hawkins | ... | Cheerleader (as Danielle Hawkins) |
| Sabri Reyiz | ... | Uzaktan Sut Çeken Adam |
| Marcus Shultz | ... | Jamie |
 | Toneey Acevedo | ... | Older Mexican Man (uncredited) |
| Lasco Atkins | ... | Football Supporter (uncredited) |
| Kelsey Barney | ... | Cheerleader #6 (uncredited) |
| Adam Baroni | ... | Newcastle UTD Reserve Player (uncredited) |
| Milan Baros | ... | Himself (uncredited) |
| Rafael Benítez | ... | Himself (uncredited) |
| Ayden Callaghan | ... | Newcastle Reserves (uncredited) |
 | Ernesto Cantu | ... | Various (voice) (uncredited) |
 | Alex Castillo | ... | Landscaper (uncredited) |
| Jordy Cernik | ... | Football Fan (uncredited) |
 | Robyn Cooper | ... | Waitress (uncredited) |
 | Tracy Dali | ... | Cheerleader (uncredited) |
| Robert Dearle | ... | Football Fan (uncredited) |
| Kieron Dyer | ... | Himself (uncredited) |
| Steven Gerrard | ... | Himself (uncredited) |
 | Jack Gustav | ... | Goalkeeper / Himself (uncredited) |
| Russell Honeywell | ... | Extra - Football Supporter (uncredited) |
| Ani James | ... | V.I.P (uncredited) |
| Patrick T. Johns | ... | Newcastle Supporter (uncredited) |
 | Christopher Johnson | ... | Fan Extra (uncredited) |
 | Scott Johnson | ... | Football Supporter (uncredited) |
| Lacey Jones | ... | Cheerleader (uncredited) |
| Jon Kabira | ... | Announcer (uncredited) |
| Patrick Kluivert | ... | Himself (uncredited) |
 | Dean Knowsley | ... | Police Officer (uncredited) |
| Du'aine Ladejo | ... | Claudio (uncredited) |
 | Nito Larioza | ... | Soccer Player (uncredited) |
 | Galina Liss | ... | Cheerleader (uncredited) |
 | Neil McDermott | ... | Morrison (uncredited) |
| James Middlemarch | ... | Rafael Benitez (uncredited) |
| Yumi Mizui | ... | Chinese Waitress (uncredited) |
| Ken Mood | ... | Football Supporter (uncredited) |
| Stephen Nicholas | ... | Newcastle Player (uncredited) |
 | Ed Pearce | ... | St John's Ambulance Worker (uncredited) |
| Montse Pla | ... | Nurse (uncredited) |
| Gordon Price | ... | Bar Patron (uncredited) |
| John Arne Riise | ... | Himself (uncredited) |
| Peter Rnic | ... | Football Club Chairman (uncredited) |
| Dirk Smith | ... | Newcastle Managers Assistant (uncredited) |
| Daniel Sogamoso | ... | Football Fan (uncredited) |
| Michael Thompson | ... | Newcastle Thug (uncredited) |
 | Wayne Thompson | ... | Press Photographer (uncredited) |
| Lewis Till | ... | Manchester United Reserve Team Player (uncredited) |
| Chuen Tsou | ... | Newcastle Supporter (uncredited) |
| Ren Urano | ... | Chinese Chef (uncredited) |
 | Alexander von Roon | ... | Val's Husband (uncredited) |
| Howard Webb | ... | Himself (Newcastle vs Liverpool match referee) (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| Danny Cannon | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Mike Jefferies | (story) and | |
| Adrian Butchart | (story) | |
| Dick Clement | (screenplay) and | |
| Ian La Frenais | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Matt Barrelle | .... | producer | |
| Lawrence Bender | .... | executive producer | |
| Jo Burn | .... | co-producer | |
| Nicolas Gautier | .... | associate producer | |
| Peter Hargitay | .... | executive producer | |
| Stevie Hargitay | .... | associate producer | |
| Jonathan Harris | .... | associate producer | |
| Allen Hopkins | .... | associate producer | |
| Mark Huffam | .... | producer | |
| Mike Jefferies | .... | producer | |
| Chris Ouwinga | .... | co-producer | |
| Danny Stepper | .... | co-producer | |
| Darryn Welch | .... | co-producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Graeme Revell | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Michael Barrett | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Chris Dickens | |||
Casting by | |||
| Elaine Grainger | |||
| Lucinda Syson | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Laurence Dorman | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Stuart Rose | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Jane Cooke | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Lindsay Pugh | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| June Brickman | .... | makeup department head: Los Angeles | |
| Jane English | .... | key makeup artist: Los Angeles | |
| Dena Fayne | .... | key hair stylist: Los Angeles (as Dena Faye) | |
| Vienna McMahon | .... | makeup trainee | |
| Charlotte Parker | .... | hair department head: Los Angeles | |
| Sian Richards | .... | hair designer | |
| Sian Richards | .... | makeup designer | |
| Tara McDonald | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Tara McDonald | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Sue Westwood | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Sue Westwood | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Felicity Wright | .... | hair stylist supervisor (uncredited) | |
| Felicity Wright | .... | makeup supervisor (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Lyda Blank | .... | key second assistant director: Los Angeles | |
| Tom Glaisyer | .... | third assistant director | |
| Richard Goodwin | .... | second assistant director | |
| Christopher Newman | .... | first assistant director (as Chris Newman) | |
| Nick Shuttleworth | .... | co-second assistant director: crowd | |
| Robert 'Skid' Skidmore | .... | second second assistant director: Los Angeles | |
| James Chasey | .... | crowd third assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Mark Inglis | .... | second assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Emma Lawson | .... | assistant director (uncredited) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Paul Corbould | .... | special effects supervisor | |
| Joe Pancake | .... | special effects supervisor: Los Angeles | |
| Caimin Bourne | .... | special effects technician (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Tom Baskaya | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Niki Bern | .... | compositor: Framestore CFC | |
| Sule Bryan | .... | compositor: Framestore CFC (as Sule Bryan-Hurst) | |
| Tom Bunnell | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Ross Burgess | .... | animator: Framestore CFC | |
| Jason Burnett | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Andy Burrow | .... | scanning and recording manager: Framestore CFC | |
| Marco Checa Garcia | .... | compositor: Framestore CFC | |
| Paul Doogan | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Kerry Downing | .... | visual effects editorial assistant: Framestore CFC | |
| Jonathan Dredge | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Peter Forson | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Heidi Freeman | .... | visual effects editor | |
| Ben Gillingham-Sutton | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Adam Glasman | .... | DI colourist | |
| Joe Godfrey | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Dianne Gordon | .... | data operator: Framestore CFC | |
| Charlie Habanananda | .... | data operator: Framestore CFC | |
| Alistair Hamer | .... | film mastering engineer: Framestore CFC | |
| Adam Hawkes | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Alex Hessler | .... | head of render support: Framestore CFC | |
| Charles Howell | .... | visual effects line producer: Framestore CFC | |
| Gareth Jones | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Tim Keene | .... | visual effects producer: Framestore CFC | |
| Joe Leveson | .... | motion tracker: Framestore CFC | |
| Kim Loan-Do | .... | systems support engineer: Framestore CFC (as Kim Loan Do) | |
| Kevin Lowery | .... | film mastering engineer: Framestore CFC | |
| Roz Lowrie | .... | head of visual effects editorial: Framestore CFC | |
| Rebecca Manning | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Christophe Meslin | .... | head of systems support: Framestore CFC (as Christopher Meslin) | |
| Maria Michalopoulou | .... | data operator: Framestore CFC | |
| Paolo Mitton | .... | motion tracker: Framestore CFC | |
| Mark Nelmes | .... | visual effects supervisor: Framestore CFC | |
| Stuart Nippard | .... | data operator: Framestore CFC | |
| John Peck | .... | compositor: Framestore CFC | |
| Dan Perry | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Richard Poet | .... | visual effects avid editor: Framestore CFC | |
| Aled Prosser | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Howard Protheroe | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Rob Richardson | .... | render support: Framestore CFC | |
| Gavin Round | .... | visual effects film editorial: Framestore-CFC | |
| Cal Sawyer | .... | head of data operations: Framestore CFC | |
| Anthony Smith | .... | digital effects supervisor: Framestore CFC | |
| Kevin Spruce | .... | animation supervisor: Framestore CFC | |
| Martin Taylor | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Paola Varvaro | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Tara Walker | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Alan Woods | .... | technical director: Framestore CFC | |
| Annabel Wright | .... | scanning, recording and digital cleanup: Framestore CFC | |
| Tim Young | .... | digital paint artist: Framestore CFC | |
| Michael Bartlett | .... | digital compositor (uncredited) | |
| Danny Geurtsen | .... | digital artist (uncredited) | |
| Vincent Goodsell | .... | digital compositor (uncredited) | |
| Dave Robinson | .... | systems engineer (uncredited) | |
| Aatesh Shah | .... | systems engineer: Framestore CFC (uncredited) | |
| Stephen Willey | .... | systems engineer (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Mitch Baylock | .... | costume assistant: Los Angeles | |
| Charlotte Child | .... | wardrobe assistant | |
| Nancy Collini | .... | costume supervisor: Los Angeles | |
| Annette Dunford-Lewis | .... | costumer: Los Angeles | |
| Brendan Handscombe | .... | wardrobe master | |
| Brandy Lusvardi | .... | costumer: Los Angeles | |
| Georgiana Sayer | .... | wardrobe assistant | |
| Alison Stein | .... | costumer: Los Angeles | |
| Justine Warhurst | .... | wardrobe assistant | |
| Diana Wyand | .... | costume trainee (uncredited) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Adam Glasman | .... | colorist: Framestore CFC | |
| Jan Hogevold | .... | digital grade executive producer: Framestore CFC | |
| Matthew Jenkins | .... | post-production coordinator (as Matt Jenkins) | |
| Brian Krijgsman | .... | assistant colorist: Framestore CFC | |
| Tom Lewis | .... | additional editor | |
| Claire McGrane | .... | senior digital grade producer: Framestore CFC | |
| Mark Neale | .... | first assistant editor | |
| Joanna Partyka | .... | trainee assistant editor | |
| James Renfroe | .... | second assistant editor | |
| Gavin Round | .... | digital intermediate editorial: Framestore CFC | |
| Maria Stroka | .... | digital grade producer: Framestore CFC | |
| Steve Farman | .... | negative cutter (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Jason Alexander | .... | music supervisor | |
| John Baker | .... | music preparation | |
| Chris Barrett | .... | assistant music engineer | |
| Debra Baum | .... | music consultant: The Orla Group | |
| John Bell | .... | orchestrator | |
| Becky Bentham | .... | score coordinator: Hothouse Music | |
| Rudy Chung | .... | music coordinator | |
| Peter Clarke | .... | music editor | |
| Geoff Foster | .... | music score mixer | |
| Geoff Foster | .... | score recordist | |
| Isobel Griffiths | .... | orchestra contractor | |
| Nick Ingman | .... | conductor | |
| Nick Ingman | .... | orchestrator | |
| Kier Lehman | .... | music licensing: Hit the Ground Running | |
| Doug Logan | .... | music preparation | |
| Cliff Masterson | .... | orchestrator | |
| Andrew McKenna | .... | orchestrator | |
| Steve Orchard | .... | assistant music engineer | |
| Michael Price | .... | music editor | |
| Ashley Revell | .... | music editor | |
| David E. Russo | .... | music programmer (as David Russo) | |
| Ron Shillingford | .... | music preparation | |
| James Stone | .... | assistant music engineer | |
| Kevin Townend | .... | orchestrator | |
| Rick Wentworth | .... | orchestrator | |
| Nick Wollage | .... | score recordist | |
| Evelyn Wong | .... | music licensing: Hit the Ground Running | |
| Ian Wood | .... | assistant music engineer | |
| Gavyn Wright | .... | orchestra leader | |
Thanks | |||
| Nora Maccoby | .... | special thanks | |
Production Companies
- Milkshake Films
- Touchstone Pictures (presents)
- Hargitay & Hargitay Pictures in Motion
- Little Magic Films (produced in association with)
- Toshiba Entertainment (produced in association with)
- Buena Vista Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (worldwide) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Kinowelt Filmverleih (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Village Roadshow Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD) (French speaking region)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
- Buena Vista International Italia (2005) (Italy) (all media)
- Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- PlazaVista Entertainment (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD) (German speaking region)
- Cine Image Film Opticals (digital end titles)
- Framestore CFC (visual effects)
- Pinewood Studios movie studio
- Air Lyndhurst Studios music mixed at (as Air Studios, London)
- Air Lyndhurst Studios music recorded at (as Air Studios, London)
- Angel Recording Studios music recorded at (as Angel Studios, London)
- Big Brother Recordings soundtrack
- Bonded Services production storage
- Camera Revolution megamount
- Casting Collective extras casting
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment dollies
- Cine Image Film Opticals end credit roll (as Cineimage)
- Compuhire computer and video playback
- Coolair Charter airplane charters
- Dakota Music Services music preparation
- David Deane Associates health and safety
- EMI Records soundtrack consultant
- Fatts post-production script service
- Film Finances completion guarantor
- Film Freight International overseas shipping (as Film Freight)
- Film Support Services transport
- Film Unit Drivers Guild transport
- Flying Pictures aerial coordination
- Framestore CFC digital intermediate and titles
- Freud Communications unit publicist
- Gala Catering catering: Los Angeles
- Globestepper Productions special thanks
- Hit the Ground Running Productions music licensing (as Hit the Ground Running)
- Hothouse Music score coordination
- Isobel Griffiths Limited orchestra contractor
- Joe Dunton & Company International video equipment (as Joe Dunton & Co. Ltd)
- Joe Dunton & Company video assist equipment
- Lays International transport
- Lee Lighting electrical equipment
- Lee Lighting lighting
- Marshall/Plumb Research Associates legal clearances (as Marshall/Plumb)
- Midnight Transfer editing facilities and equipment
- Orla Group music consultant
- Panavision UK camera equipment provided by
- Panavision cameras and lenses
- Postsums post-production accounting
- Precision couriers
- Professional Negative Cutting negative cutting
- Reel Security production security
- Reelsound sound design and post-production
- Sara Curran Solicitors legal services
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment soundtrack distributed by
- Stroock & Stroock & Lavan legal services
- Titan Security UK cast security
- Totally Entertainment insurance services
- Transportation Resources transportation equipment
- Willie's Wheels location facilities
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Goal!" - USA (original title)
"Goal!: The Impossible Dream" - Europe (English title) (DVD box title)
See more »
"Goal!: The Impossible Dream" - Europe (English title) (DVD box title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, language and a brief drug reference
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
118 min
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
UK:12A | Norway:A | Ireland:PG | Finland:S | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:PG | Germany:o.Al. | Argentina:Atp | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Brazil:Livre | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG (edited version) | South Korea:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The final scene where Santiago scores to win the game against Liverpool F.C. is the actual goal scored by Laurent Robert in real life. It is noticeable that Santiago, a right footed player throughout the movie, shoots with his left foot in this scene.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: The shot has been flipped when Gavin Harris scores his first goal against Liverpool. The shirt numbers are reversed - the most obvious is Liverpool's number 21.See more »
Quotes:
Barry Rankin:[Talking to someone on the phone] What's cool and hangs up?
[And then hangs up]
See more »
[And then hangs up]
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in Goal II: Living the Dream (2007)See more »
Soundtrack:
Playground SuperstarSee more »
FAQ
During the scene when Roz says, "Yeah ya do. It's green an' it's got a goal post at each end" when she smiles, her mouth looks like it is full of blood! The scene is quick but unedited. Any answeres?See more »
See more (103 total) »
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company.
Yes, this is another sports biography that offers a stage on which to play out the drama of the possibilities of dreams of the disenfranchised to become a reality. There are many, many films like this one and will doubtless be more: something there is about the 'team spirit' in the identity crisis of whether or not the poor (financially) new guy will be able to make the physical grade that draws large audiences. It is a formula and it often works despite weak structure and production values.
In the case of GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS the viewer can put aside the doubts as to whether the film can make it on its own: this little low profile movie is well written (Mike Jefferies's story adapted for the screen by Adrian Butchart), well directed by Danny Cannon who knows well how to integrate live sports scenes into the drama, and consistently well acted by a troop of excellent actors, beginning with the very vibrant, handsome, and charismatic Kuno Becker ('Lucia, Lucia', 'Imagining Argentina', 'Once Upon a Wedding', 'English as a Second Language'), a 28 year old Mexican actor with an assured future in the lead role of Santiago. The supporting roles are classy contributions by the gifted Alessandro Nivola ('The Sisters', 'Junebug', 'The Clearing', 'Laurel Canyon', 'Love's Labour's Lost', 'Mansfield Park' etc), the very beautiful Anna Friel, Stephen Dillane, Marcel Iures, Tony Plana, Miriam Colon to mention only a few.
The story is secondary: as a child devotee of soccer Santiago immigrates illegally into the US with his family, grows up in Los Angeles working as a gardener, a dishwasher and other menial tasks while he consumes his spare time with developing his unique talents for soccer. Despite his father's insistence that he remain with the family business of gardening, Santiago is discovered by a scout on vacation from England, a bond develops and soon Santiago is off to Newcastle to pursue his dream of being a professional soccer player. The rest is pretty obvious - the ups and downs of an asthmatic kid competing in the wild world of sports. The star of the moment is Alessandro Nivola and despite the differences in their goals and social life they become friends who help each other in tender ways. There is of course a love interest, telephone calls and encouragement form Santiago's grandmother, adjustments to life in the UK -all altering the road toward Santiago's eventually attained goal.
The film is a bit lengthy (two hours) for the content, but then we understand this is the first of a trilogy, so get used to the story and the characters as they all remain constant for the next two installments. Whatever reservations you may have about sitting through another predictable sports movie just relax them: Kuno Becker alone is worth the time invested in this very fine little film. Grady Harp