I saw the film recently although it's not a new film, and I could not take my eyes off the TV screen: the kid is so charming, the story and the characters are so sweet you just can't get enough. The 8 year old kid, a football fan in this small African village realizes he needs to work 750 days to pay for a proper leather football. He breaks down. The doctor (Agnes Soral) in charge of the humanitarian hospital of the area decides to make him a big surprise: she brings a football back from one of her trips to Europe. The kids of he village obsessed with the fame of the Golden Ball trophy paint the ball with golden paint. Will Bandian (the kid) make it to Europe? The film depicts what must have been the youth of many a football legend. They enchant the pitches of Europe every week-end and the tabloids write about their salaries and their love lives. But where do these African stars come from? The Golden Ball gives us hints and shows the incredible obstacles these heroes of the beautiful game had to overcome to make it. A wonderful film for families and sports fans.
