Sports fans all over the world know that football is Argentina’s greatest and most widespread passion. The sport is at the heart of this Latin country’s culture and is an enormous source of pride. So as the metro’s top lifestyle destination, Shangri-La Plaza, hosts the third Argentine Film Festival, mall guests will get to experience some of Argentina’s impressive cinematic works, which explore this famous sport, and tell stories that will inspire people screening from May 11 to 14 at Cinema 4, Shang Cineplex.
A tribute to friendship, love, and humor, Papers in the wind (Papeles en el viento) follows three long-time friends—Fernando, Mauricio and El Ruso—who are recovering from the loss of their comrade, El Mono, while trying to figure out how to take care of the daughter he left behind. Securing her future won’t be easy seeing as there isn’t a single peso left in El Mono’s bank account. The three friends then try to recover his biggest investment—a young soccer player who was being groomed for football stardom, but can’t even score a goal.
Underdogs (Metegol) is an animated film with a whole lot of heart, laughter, and a bit of magic. Amadeo is a shy but talented foosball player and when the characters from his favorite foosball game magically come to life, they embark on a wild adventure and confront the most fearsome of rivals on a pitch.
Meanwhile, Goals for girls: a story of women with balls (Mujeres con pelotas) is a documentary that investigates the neglected world of women’s football in Argentina. Here, women players reveal how prejudice, and complete abandonment by local authorities, conspire against a sport that has grown worldwide. These women play and fight on and off the field to ensure that the words of the FIFA president would come true: “The future of football belongs to women.”
In Easy ball (Hijos nuestros), Hugo, who was once a professional soccer player, now lives a dull life as an overweight cab driver in Buenos Aires. But when Silvia and her son Julian hop into his cab one day, Hugo’s luck suddenly changes. He doesn’t know it yet, but life may be giving him a second chance.
Speaking of second chances, Patón Bonassiolle, 35 years of age and captain of a local football club, realizes that his career is nearing its end without him even achieving fame and fortune. In The Five (El 5 de los Talleres), Patón will embark in a journey to fulfill a new purpose in life.
Finally, the documentary Argentina and its football industry (Argentina y su fábrica de fútbol) deals with the world of children and their early hard work before joining professional football teams.
You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy these movies, because these are universal stories that will surely touch your hearts, make you laugh, think and be inspired. All screenings will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis.
For inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 593 or visit http://www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.