The Argentine Film Festival will celebrate its third year at Shangri-La Plaza’s Shang Cineplex on May 11 to 14, putting the spotlight on its favorite sport – football – with drama, comedy and animation, and documentaries set to bring audiences a different cinematic experience.
Papeles en el viento (Papers in the wind) tells a story of three long-time friends trying to recover from the loss of their friend, El Mono, and wanting to secure the future of his little girl. But for Fernando, Mauricio and El Ruso this will not be easy. They decide to recover a big investment El Mono had made when he had bought a soccer player who was supposed to become a star.
An investigative film Mujeres con pelotas (Goals for girls: a story of women with balls) narrates the ignored world of women’s football in Argentina. The women of the Villa 31 and players from different backgrounds reveal that family prejudices combined with complete abandonment by local authorities conspire against the development of a sport that has grown worldwide. These players have to fight on and off the field to ensure that the words of the president of FIFA come true: “the future of football belongs to women”.
Argentina fútbol club (Argentine football club), Singing. Shouting. Hysteria. Argentina lives for football. The battle between Boca Juniors and River Plate is not just about sports; it is an ever enduring struggle for identity. In Buenos Aires, historic tensions swell not only between teams Boca Juniors and River Plate, but also between working and ruling class in the days preceding the big game. Through a cultural lens, this film provides an intimate look into the Argentine fútbol club, its players and its fans, to reveal its resonance and impact throughout the nation.
Another documentary, Argentina y su fábrica de fútbol (Argentina and its football Factory) deals with the world of children and their early hardwork before entering a professional football team.
Hugo, Hijos nuestros (Easy ball), was once a professional soccer player, lives a dull life as an overweight cab driver in Buenos Aires. One day Silvia and her son Julian hop into his cab and his luck seems to change. He doesn’t know it yet but life is giving a second chance.
In Metegol (Underdog), the animated adventure film, a shy, smart boy and his football team try to get back and work together in time to face their most fearsome rivals in the field.
The festival closes with El 5 de talleres (The Five), a story of Patón Bonassiolle, captain and midfielder of the Talleres de Remedios de Escalda club, realizes that his career in football is almost done. Patón played all his life for the club, without achieving fame and fortune. At the age of 35, Ale, will be supporting him to find new purpose in his life.
These seven films promises to bring audiences closer to Argentina’s most loved sport, so if you’re a fan of the beautiful game (good films, or both), be sure to catch it only at the home of the country’s premier international film festivals, the Shang Cineplex.
For inquiries, contact 370-2500 local 597 or log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com. Visit the Shang’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial and Embassy of Argentina’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ArgentinaEnFilipinas.
