91热爆

The youth of today! Lest we think that all youths in sportswear are out to mug us, energetic documentary In the Hands of the Gods shows there are at least five British boys in hoodies who've got something positive to do, namely blagging their way to Buenos Aires to meet their idol Diego Maradona. Woody, Mike, Jeremy, Danny and Sami are football freestylers who decide to use their magical ball skills to busk their way across America, hopefully earning themselves a few minutes with the man who's shaped their ambitions.

As Saint once said to Greavsie (probably) it's a game of two halves; the first being the unalloyed energy and enthusiasm of the fivesome as they rake in the travel funds, the second when there's insufficient cash to put them all on a vital flight to Mexico and the pressure to split looms. The film is blessed with a cast with genuinely moving backstories (from the deaths of best friends to life in Somalia) but manages to balance this, and the inevitable arguments, with laughs and dazzling footage of the boys performing for entranced onlookers.

"WILL HAVE FOOTIE LOVERS WEEPING"

Directors Gabe and Benjamin Turner have fashioned a story that will have footie lovers weeping by its conclusion, but which is equally affecting to those with an aversion to the beautiful game. Dispensing with narration or on-screen input from the filmmakers, the Turners direct our attention solely at the boys' quest, resulting in a film that's not so much about football but about having a dream and summoning the drive and passion to pursue it. In the Hands of the Gods 1, cynics 0.

In the Hands of the Gods is out in the UK on 14 September 2007.