While the majority of Americans have yet to warm up to the sport of soccer, the fact remains that "football" is akin to a religion in a much of the world. The directors of Pelada set out on a two-year journey around the world to get an intimate look at the world's sport. While it is the World Cup matches and multimillion-dollar punters that make headlines, Pelada searches out the everyday pickup games that take place in narrow alleyways and on rooftop pitches all across the globe.
Even if you're not a fan of soccer, you can't help but recognize the profound effect that the sport has in every corner of the globe. Luke and Gwendolyn are former college stars that never quite made it to the professional leagues; this film is just as much their own personal story as it is a documentary about the sport itself. As the pair discovers countless new ways in which the game is played, they also obtain some valuable insight into their own attitudes toward the game and their futures.
The images and experience of Pelada are absolutely captivating. In Kenya, moonshine brewers play junkyard tournaments to help regain their honor in the village. In Israel, Palestinians argue a questionable goal with Jewish residents the day after an Arab terrorist attack, and in Brazil a young girl plays with such skill and spirit that she is revered by every boy and girl in the neighborhood.
All in all, the group visited 25 countries is the process of documenting the game; each has its own unique story. Granted, these anecdotes aren't always happy ones. The group actually has some legitimately scary run-ins with government officials and local criminals. The filmmakers set out to document the unifying nature of soccer across the world, and while they aren't always successful, they do still manage to deliver remarkable insight into the sport itself.
