PELÉ (15) H
HHHH
HE’S an emotional man,
Pelé. In this engrossing documentary, we see him sob uncontrollably as he’s carried from the pitch after steering Brazil to their first World Cup in 1958.
The now 80-year-old breaks down again as he talks us through the day that changed his life. When he gets to his final World Cup in 1970, the film makers may wish they’d brought a mop and bucket.
“You lose control, you can’t explain it,” he sniffs, remembering the jubilant fans in Mexico. And it’s that raw emotion that defined his remarkable career.
When he scored his amazing first goal of two in the ’58 final, Brazil was searching for a national identity. After one delightful chip, they were the land of flair, courage and athleticism. And a 17-year-old, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was its figurehead.
The archive footage is a thrilling testament to his talent, but the film also explores the pressures that came with his status as the unofficial “king” of Brazil.
When the country’s new president General Médici began murdering rivals in 1968, Pelé became the propaganda tool of a fascist regime.
“I love Pelé,” says his old teammate Caju as we see TV footage of the icon hugging the despot. “But that won’t stop me criticising him.”
Pelé may have played from the heart but this insightful documentary provides plenty of food for thought.
On Netflix now