Johan Cruijff - En un momento dado (2004)

Director:

Ramón Gieling

Writer:

Ramón Gieling

Stars:

Xavier Pitarque, Gemma Folch, Sergi Pàmies

Cast

Credited cast:
Xavier Pitarque	...	Himself
Gemma Folch	...	Herself
Sergi Pàmies	...	Himself
Emilio Butragueño	...	Himself
Diego Carrasco	...	Himself
Joan Patsy	...	Himself
Ferran Torrent	...	Himself
Fermí Puig	...	Himself
Marius Petit	...	Himself
Jordi Solé	...	Himself
Miguel Rico Santamaría	...	Himself
Joan Laporta	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johan Cruyff	...	Himself
Santiago Dexeus	...	Himself

Storyline

---

Plot Keywords:

soccer | catalonia | character name in title

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Netherlands]

Country:

Spain Netherlands

Language:

Catalan Spanish Dutch

Release Date:

19 February 2004 (Netherlands)

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

La Productora

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 95 min (TV)

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Great moments, disappointing ending

This film is packed with moments of magic. Its makers went to Barcelona to interview admirers of /El Salvatore/: former Real (!) player Butragueño, the heart surgeon who operated on Cruijff after his heart attack in 1989, and a host of no-names, all of whom shed light on different aspects of the subject's life. Most of them have wonderful anecdotes to tell, and many take the opportunity to re-enact favourite actions of their hero. And, finally, we hear the Man himself speak in a long interview.

The beginning and the end of the film is made up of Cruijffs Barcelona farewell match in 1999, played by his former dream team against contemporary Barça players. While the film shows much of the events of the night: Cruijffs speech at the beginning, and the audience's standing ovation after the match - one absolutely crucial moment is left out: that Cruijff, to top it all off, grabs the mic and starts singing the Barcelona club anthem. The moment I am referring to here is only briefly mentioned by Cruijff himself: "I didn't want to ruin a great evening". That is just an understatement; it was typically Cruijff to do a thing like that, and it was very moving. Those who saw the match will never forget that moment, and why it was left out of this documentary is completely beyond me.