The Two Escobars (22 Jun. 2010)

The rise of Colombian soccer is attributed to the influx of drug money into the sport by Pablo Escobar and the other drug cartels. However, the team's swift decline after Escobar's death results in the murder of star player Andres Escobar.

Directors:

Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist

Writers:

Nick Sprague (original concept), Michael Zimbalist,

Stars:

María Ester Escobar, Francisco Maturana, Alexis García V.

1 nomination.

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
María Ester Escobar	...	Herself
Francisco Maturana	...	Himself
Alexis García V.	...	Himself
Jaime Gaviria Gómez	...	Himself
Jhon Jairo Velásquez V.	...	Himself
Rubén Darío Pinilla C.	...	Himself
Juan José Bellini	...	Himself
Fernando Rodríguez Mondragón	...	Himself
Eduardo Rojo	...	Himself
Leonel Alvarez	...	Himself
Luz María Escobar	...	Herself
Luis Fernando Herrera	...	Himself
Fernando Brito	...	Himself
Tom Cash	...	Himself
Alirio López	...	Himself

Storyline

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, many believe, Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel and the Cali Cartels were largely responsible for financing and building the Colombian National soccer team into one of the world's best. But in an early match against the United States in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, a Colombian defense man named Andres Escobar-no relation to Pablo-committed an own goal that led to the team's elimination. Less than ten days later, Escobar was gunned down outside a bar in a suburb of Medellin. He was shot 12 times, and the murderer shouted "goal" each time the trigger was pulled. Was Escobar's murder an isolated incident, or were gambling organizations controlled by the cartels responsible? Award-winning director Jeff Zimbalist will examine the mysterious events leading up to and surrounding Andres Escobar's death.

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Plot Keywords:

team | soccer | goal | colombian | kingpin | 

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Genres:

Sport

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Colombia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

All Rise Films, ESPN Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features XV FIFA World Cup 1994 (1994)

User Reviews

"It is only a game"

This fascinating documentary was made as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series and highlights the rise of soccer in Colombia in the 1980s. Naturally, the infusion of drug money helped build the teams and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar got behind the National team. The other Escobar in the story is Andrés Escobar, a middle class kid who grew up to be the captain of this team. Soccer fans take their sport VERY seriously and this film showcases that. There are quite a few shocking things that happen to the team as they made their way to the World Cup in the United States in 1994 that will make cringe. Directors Jeff & Michael Zimbalist use tons of old footage and seamlessly bounce from the war on drugs to the wars on the soccer fields. Now when you get me to care about soccer, you know you've done something right.