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Pele: Birth of a Legend

Original title: Pelé: Birth of a Legend
  • 2016
  • PG
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Pele: Birth of a Legend (2016)
Pele's meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading to Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17 is chronicled in this biographical drama.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
39 Photos
DocudramaSoccerBiographyDramaSport

Pele's meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17 is chronicled in this biographical drama.Pele's meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17 is chronicled in this biographical drama.Pele's meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17 is chronicled in this biographical drama.

  • Directors
    • Jeff Zimbalist
    • Michael Zimbalist
  • Writers
    • Jeff Zimbalist
    • Michael Zimbalist
  • Stars
    • Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Rodrigo Santoro
    • Diego Boneta
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Jeff Zimbalist
      • Michael Zimbalist
    • Writers
      • Jeff Zimbalist
      • Michael Zimbalist
    • Stars
      • Vincent D'Onofrio
      • Rodrigo Santoro
      • Diego Boneta
    • 67User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Official Trailer

    Photos38

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    Top cast34

    Edit
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Feola
    Rodrigo Santoro
    Rodrigo Santoro
    • Brazilian Announcer
    Diego Boneta
    Diego Boneta
    • Jose
    Seu Jorge
    Seu Jorge
    • Dondinho
    Kevin de Paula
    • Pele
    Leonardo Lima Carvalho
    Leonardo Lima Carvalho
    • Younger Pele
    Mariana Nunes
    Mariana Nunes
    • Celeste Arantes (Pele's Mother)
    Milton Gonçalves
    Milton Gonçalves
    • Waldemar de Brito
    Seth Michaels
    Seth Michaels
    • Mario Zagallo
    André Mattos
    André Mattos
    • Santos club's coach
    Phil Miler
    Phil Miler
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    Rafael Henriques
    • Yuri (14 year old)
    Felipe Simas
    • Garrincha
    Adriano Aragon
    Adriano Aragon
    • French Announcer
    • (voice)
    Mariana Balsa
    Mariana Balsa
    • Lucia
    Eric Bell Jr.
    • Zoca
    • (voice)
    Fernando Caruso
    • Zito
    Tonya Cornelisse
    Tonya Cornelisse
    • Swedish Girl
    • Directors
      • Jeff Zimbalist
      • Michael Zimbalist
    • Writers
      • Jeff Zimbalist
      • Michael Zimbalist
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews67

    7.122.1K
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    Featured reviews

    yassinharafa

    Inspirational.

    The best movie ever, because I feel very inspired by this amazing and one of a kind movie.
    8saurabhjustu

    This is more than just a mere football movie

    PELE is probably the biggest name in the soccer history that has shaped & shifted the current playing style of modern day game. The extravagant career speaks for itself. The movie shows us the making & coming to be of PELE.

    I see a lot pf people saying this movie is predictable, not so good & what not. to all of them & most importantly to all of u i say, this movie is more than just a football movie. Not every movie is supposed to be a thriller or an Avenger movie. simple things in life have a way of getting to us.

    This movie is about small & humble beginnings, its about friendship , its about believing in one self, taking the risk. Movie shows us that is does not matter if u have all the resources or opportunities in the world. if u keep at it, if u find something that you are passionate about & stick to it, day by day, night after night, the results speak for itself.

    Movie has amazing moments, really great camera work. one of the best for all the soccer movies out there. Even if one know nothing about the legend that PELE is, once you are into the movie, you cant resist to feel the journey he is going to make in life. I was finding myself constantly tears of joy rolling down my cheek coz i was hooked into the movie. had soo many of those watering your eyes moments that once the movie was over, i was filled with joy and happiness to have witness such a good work of art.

    Acting & direction is simple & stunning. camera-work is amazing , specially in those moments you want to fell the greatness of the legend, the movie gives you that.

    I'll keep going back to watching this movie , just to feel that joy of watching something beautiful in the making again & again.
    8erick-palacios04

    Ginga or Joga Bonito, both mean: Pelé

    I grew up watching Football, i loved it and i still do, and of course i love my nation (Venezuela), but you just can't denied that you like Brasil for their style of playing, their amazing Joga Bonito, it's just masterful and beautiful that makes you think, can i do that?, there are 2 correct answers: you work all day, every day for a very long time to accomplish it, or just wait until another life and born with it like Pelé.

    This is the guy that every Football player looks up to at least one time in their life, and of course for us Fottball lovers to know there is a movie about this legend it's like saying, there is a movie about Michael Jackson and you think: They better don't mess it up, because he is the best in the business and he deserves it. Trust me they have done it right in this film, the kid playing Pelé is really good with his ginga (freestyle of playing) and does honor to the man himself, he really capture the essence of what he means to every fan, player and Brazilian in the world. Makes me think, can he have Pelé's blood, yes he does, but not by family, but by nationality, they just have it in them.

    The movie it's solid in the cinematography, it really shows the feeling of the country and their culture and the sport itself, the casting made me think some times about overacting, but i just forget about it and kept watching a great film. What i really loved is that Ginga is explained and gives real knowledge of what it means, it's now that they call it Joga Bonito, but they are the same: One amazing player. Donpt believe me? just take a good look yourself this movie and experience what Soccer (that's how Americans call it) it's really about, and you will have the most amazing teacher, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or as is best known: Pelé.
    7subxerogravity

    Turning a legend into a saint

    Pele is one of the most spiritual sports movies I've ever seen and is more heart than anything else.

    It's more about the pride of Brazil and Edson Arantes do Nascimento being a beautiful symbol of it.

    Pele is a poor kid form a poor part of Brazil who was good enough to use football to start building a better life by being a part of the 1958 Olympic team. More to the story, is that from the place he is from , his father taught him the ginga, for the purpose of the movie, the ginga is a celebration of Brazil's African heritage focus through football, a system that most of Brazil feels lost them the last two Olympic games, but Pele realized they were not doing it right and shows them the path that leads to the gold and Brazilian pride.

    The acting itself did not bring on this spirit, but I did like the acting. From the trailer, I was not sure if Vincent D'Onofrio could pull off the role as the team's coach, but indeed he does a find job. It's one of the few sports movies in which the coach's inspiration is a very small part of the movie, but D'Onofrio does well with the little he's got.

    The spirit comes more in the film making itself , as they use small special effects like slow motion to make Pele look divine every time he gets the ball, inter cut with scenes of people watching in total ah of what he can do. At first it seems cheesy when they first start doing it, but after a while it gets into a rhythm that gets you into it, and you can't help but to let it touch your soul.

    I don't think it's better or worse than any other sports movie. What makes it unique is that they're are very few of these about Soccer (and so many about American Football), but it does the trick of inspiring you and having you cheer for the underdog, though I feel I did not really learn much about Pele in the process.
    8elyobj

    If only every film could have the star in the audience!

    I was invited to the world premier of this film at the TriBeCa Film Festival, in New York. I say invited, as if my life is some sort of glamorous affair. In reality, a mate at work couldn't make it, and he knew I'd have no actual plans, so I eagerly obliged.

    Just before the movie started, the 350 or so people in the audience got what they wanted, as the man himself stood up and raised his hand to the instagram happy crowd. Just knowing Pele was in the audience gave the room a little extra energy.

    Perhaps a little naive, I knew a little about Pele's playing career but little of the man and, the journey to what he became. The film follows his early years with friends at home, up until he becomes 17 and plays for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. There's enough humour, big laughs, drama, and passion in the film that will translate to fans familiar with the legend and those who may have only heard of him.

    The real treat, were the applause, and cheering from the audience when the on-screen Pele scored. His hand went up in recognition and the cheers got louder. I was pleased that despite the film keeping my attention he may have nodded off, he's knocking on a bit.

    I waited outside afterward and managed to get a signed Santos shirt from him, which kinda gave me goose pimples, and rammed home the magnitude of who this man was, and what he had done for the game. My dad would have been proud. Sadly the shirt is the guys from work, so I'm currently deciding whether to buy a replica shirt and say I didn't get it, or beginning to practice the man's signature! That's okay, isn't it...

    I did snap a selfie. Insta - Jamesbydesign

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Old Guy in suit who's tea was dropped by the Brazilian team at the hotel before the Final of 1958 World cup was actually the real Pele as himself.
    • Goofs
      In the film, Pelè's mother is a servant in Josè Altafini "Mazzola's" home. In real life, both Pelè and Altafini were from modest families. They also lived in different towns.
    • Crazy credits
      The end credits include the disclaimer that "The persons and events in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional." Which is of course ridiculous considering this is a biopic of Pelé loaded with real events (like the 1958 world cup).
    • Connections
      Features 1958 FIFA World Cup (1958)
    • Soundtracks
      The Little Rascal
      Performed by Anna Beatriz

      Composed by A.R. Rahman

      © 2016 Sony Classical

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 13, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Portuguese
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Pelé: Birth of a Legend
    • Filming locations
      • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Seine Pictures
      • Zohar Cinema
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,046
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,226
      • May 15, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,846,608
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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