Maradona by Kusturica (2008)

A documentary on Argentinean soccer star Diego Maradona, regarded by many as the world's greatest modern player.

Director:

Emir Kusturica

Stars:

Ernesto Cantu, Fidel Castro, Manu Chao

Cast

Credited cast:
Ernesto Cantu	...	Spanish Voice overs (voice)
Fidel Castro	...	Himself
Manu Chao	...	Himself
Hugo Chávez	...	Himself
Emir Kusturica	...	Himself
Diego Armando Maradona	...	Himself
Evo Morales	...	Himself
Claudia Villafañe	...	Herself

Storyline

A documentary on Argentinean soccer star Diego Maradona, regarded by many as the world's greatest modern player.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to robert de niro | soccer | slums | demonstration | reference to ronald reagan | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

Spain France

Language:

English Italian Serbo-Croatian Spanish

Release Date:

28 May 2008 (France)

Also Known As:

Maradona

Filming Locations:

Argentina

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$683,632

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pentagrama Films, Telecinco Cinema, Wild Bunch

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Black Cat, White Cat (1998)

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Soundtracks

God Save The Queen
Written by Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock and John Lydon
Performed by Sex Pistols

User Reviews

"If I was Maradona, I would live just like him..."

Emir Kusturica's films are often wild, inventive but ill-disciplined affairs; and his documentary about (the often wild and ill-disciplined) Diego Maradona is no exception. Maradona was of course famous as a brilliant footballer who has nearly killed himself through drug abuse and over-eating; Kusturica intersperses film of time he has spent with the star together with interviews with his fans, excerpts of his own films, comic animations, and ruminations one what Maradona represents. It's the latter which is the problem: Maradona may dislike George Bush, but that hardly makes him a revolutionary; indeed, he comes across more as a spoilt child who still can't take responsibility for his own actions. And the worship he inspires makes his physical condition seem tragic - not just old and fat, but genuinely not well (in fact, he looked far healthier recently managing his country at the recent world cup). Ultimately, the film seems determined to adore its subject, even when it's not so clear he deserves such adoration. But there are few footballers whose game or life has been nearly so interesting.