The Two Escobars

"The Two Escobars" is quite an amazing documentary telling the story behind the world wide spread news of the Colombian football-player Andres Escobar which made an own goal in the World Championships, and later was shot. Back home in Colomiba another unrelated Escobar, Pablo, was a drug-lord, with his money into the sport, on the opposite side of the Medellin-cartel.

This documentary interviews the families, players, referees and coaches, and is very interestingly made. You don't have to care about sports to have a blast watching this.

Both came from humble poor families. Pablo becomes the drug boss of Colombia. Andres a star football star and captain of the Colombian national team, and better than ever before, going all the way to becoming the 4th best in the word according to the FIFA ranking - with drug money behind, of course. Football was a great was of money laundry. In the 1994 World Cup in the US, Colombia is therefore one of the favorites to win the whole shebang.

This film is sports, poverty, money, drugs, politics, emotions, killing and international history all in one - all in a true story. The film is full of compelling footage, both open and secretly made by surveillance-cameras and overflying spy-planes.

I've read that this was originally released as a part of the ESPN 30 For 30 series of sports documentaries, but this is far more interesting than that.

There's no doubt that the drug money made Colombia a great team, because they could train very well, without thinking about other things. Still it being drug money today ruins the teams great play somewhat in hindsight. Though the players were all innocent.

It is quite amazing how the film makers has got hold of all the people close to the two Escobars, like sisters, team mates, politicians, relatives and even Pablo Escobar's hit men!

It's impossible not to be fascinated by this documentary, and it makes you think about what's behind sports, all around. You really don't know, do you!?