FASCINATING documentary about five young British freestyle footballers with a mission - to meet their hero, Diego Mardonna. All they have to do is travel across America to Argentina.
They aim to pay for their trip as they go along by busking, courtesy of their footballing skills.
The scope of their quest and the passion of their feelings sets In The Hands Of The Gods apart from the usual documentary. The fact that their friendship is truly tested by the trip gives it lots of dramatic punch.
The description in the synopsis of the five, aged between 17 and 22, neatly encapsulates their personalities - devout Christian, cheeky Scouser, failed footballer, pampered teenager and asylum seeker from Somalia.
They become friends after meeting on the freestyle circuit. Life on the road brings out the best and the worst in them. They end up splitting into two groups after failing to earn enough money to finance air travel for all of them. The chances of them reaching Argentina, let along engineer a meeting with Maradona, seem incredibly remote.
The drama along the way in Gabe and Benjamin Turner's film ensures that the story of trying to reach their goal has wider interest than just for football fans.
Stars: Sami Hall Bassam, Mikey Fisher, Jeremy Lynch, Danny Robinson, Paul Wood Running time: 106 mins
Rating: Four stars
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