The first part of the film tells about the miserable life of 10-year-old boy Pele with friends and family in the slums of Sao Paulo state; The following section focuses on his rapid rise to the Brazilian football team, culminating in a victory at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when Pele was just 17 years old.
Although the film is very simple, it reveals many interesting details. For example, many viewers will discover that Pele (born Edison Arantes do Nascimento), received his nickname from a rival child soccer player and initially hated it. The filmmakers also deserve credit for tackling racism and classism in Brazilian society.
The role of Pele in his youth.
The film is enhanced by the charismatic performances of the two young actors who play Pele (first Leonardo Lima Carvalho, then Kevin de Paula), and the emotional presence of Brazilian superstar Seu Jorge in the film. as Pele’s taciturn but warm father. Near the end, Pele himself makes a cameo, making a brief appearance, in an interesting scene. Those few seconds made the movie even more special.
In fact, while playing professionally for the Brazilian club Santos, Pele had an impressive acting career. In 1969, he played an alien named Plinio Pompeu in The Strangers, a science fiction television show. Two years later, he appeared briefly in the sex comedy O Barao Otelo no Barato dos Bilhoes.
Pele’s most interesting role, however, came in Osvaldo Sampaio’s historical drama A Marcha (1970), set in the final years of Brazilian slavery. Pele plays abolitionist Chico Bondade, a libertarian who infiltrates plantations to free slaves.
After retiring from football in 1977, Pele appeared in Anselmo Duarte’s drama Os Trombadinhas. In her 1998 autobiography, Pele wrote: “I particularly enjoyed this film and collaborated on writing the story. It’s about abandoned children. I hope the film helps bring them back. get off the streets, do something good for them and for society.”
Pele and Sylvester Stallone on set.
In 1981, Pele had his most successful film performance to date, as Corporal Luis Fernandez in John Huston’s Escape to Victory. While making the film, Pele wrote: “I walk into the field with the same passion as I do in real matches… Huston used to scream, ‘Pele, relax! It’s a movie. , it has to be contained in the scene, the emotions have to be controlled…'”. He also criticized his co-star, film legend Sylvester Stallone: ​​”I also learned that ‘stars’ don’t always work democratically. For example, Stallone won’t let anyone else sit in. my seat on the set.”
In the crime thriller Pedro Mico (1985), Pele, as a famous Rio con man, showed off some capoeira fingers – and appeared with an impressive bushy mustache – in the role. its only main. However, after Pedro Mico, Pele began to appear as himself in fictional films.
Pedro Mico makes it clear that Pele could have had a more impressive acting career. But it seems, he has decided that being the greatest footballer in the world is more than enough.
Thanh Vu | 16:27 December 31, 2022
