Just in time for the EUROS and the 2024 Copa América, we have a brand new soccer-themed short film in Passarinho, which made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7.
Directed by Natalia Garcia Agraz, the film follows two teenage girls, Olivia (Camila Robertson Glennie) and Laura (Isabella Patron), as they set out to achieve their goal of meeting their favorite soccer player, Brazilian goalkeeper Passarinho (Anthony Mawena Kokou). As their plan started to take shape, an unexpected wrench was thrown into the mix that would make them change course.
For those who love “The Beautiful Game”, there’s no greater feeling than meeting your favorite player. The only thing better than that would be watching your country lift the World Cup trophy (but that also depends on who your favorite player is). In Passarinho, Olivia and Laura are keen to meet their favorite player after the match. With her dad unavailable, the girls had to turn to Olivia’s mother, Carmen (Naomy Romo), to get them to the stadium. From here, the girls learn a trio of lessons in planning, life, and expectations.
Their elaborate plans reflect the high level of imagination and curiosity that comes with being young. It was the sweeping breath of youthful exuberance that played out in their imaginations (acquiring press credentials, storming a press conference, etc.) that reminded me of their age. The girls are hit with a hard reality check when Olivia gets her first period. But unlike meeting a celebrity, varying stages of life can’t be planned.
You can’t plan on when you’ll experience puberty and you can’t plan your family dynamic. Because this is her first period and she’s so young, the natural inclination is to consult your parents. But because of Olivia’s rocky relationship with her mother, things haven’t always been optimal. They clashed multiple times on the ride to the stadium and it took Carmen half the match to calm down (after downing a few beers no less). With their original plans now shattered, the girls watched in awe as Carmen pulled off a feat that nobody, especially Olivia and Laura, could’ve expected.
The film is important as it examines the mother-daughter dynamic as well as the importance of sport. Just last year, a big win came for women’s soccer (football) as England’s National team, the Lionesses, won a big victory in their kit battle. An all-white kit, including shorts, has been a go-to for the women’s team for many years. From an aesthetic point of view, an all-white top with white shorts does look clean, and that crisp look is what many sponsors go for. But in recent years, women have pushed back, voicing their dismay about the pressures of playing in white shorts citing period concerns. It’s good that sponsors are finally listening and working to accommodate women athletes at the highest level.
Passarinho gets a 9 out of 10. The story was relatable and the cast felt authentic. I’m a sucker for a good soccer flick and this one was solid. I truly enjoyed the sequence where the girls used their imaginations to represent how their plan “should” go. Their friendship should be used as an example of how to support one another in times of need.
The film made its Mexican premiere at the Guadalajara International Film Festival which ran from June 7 to 15.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Margarita Ortega PR