Pele: Birth of a Legend (2016) highlights “ginga”–which means the beautiful game.

Ginga was a style of soccer by the subject of this film, Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He is famously and affectionately known as Pele, the Brazilian soccer team forward.

Pele’s Brazilian teammates also preferred ginga.

The film tells us that ginga’s history goes as far back as the Portuguese slaves who came to Brazil in the 16th century and it “evolved”.

A natural

According to the film, Ginga goes out of favor when Brazil lost the final of 1950 world cup soccer tournament. National pride is at stake after losing the 1950 final, and playing safe football became more preferred if they were to win next time.

Pele makes the national team at age sixteen, but instead of ginga, he has to adapt to following a safe style of football.

The Brazilian coach resists ginga and sternly tells Pele to follow suit as they compete in the 1958 world cup in Sweden. But Pele stumbles at playing status quo because ginga is his natural style.

However, Pele cannot hold back his natural gift.

Pele: Birth of a Legend shows that one’s natural abilities can sometimes be stifled, but are more effective. It also shows that sport can inspire a world needing inspiration.

The film

This film is sometimes outlandishly stylish and amusing—kids playing with a soccer ball in the slum and Brazilian professionals dribbling a soccer ball in the building where they stay for the world cup, of all places to do this.

There’s also on-field action.

Drama happens when Pele’s young friend dies. Just before he dies, he says something that is ‘prophetic’. He tells Pele that overcoming the struggle of the slums and being a professional player is Pele’s ‘way out’.

Pauses in action include some dream-like moments—in Pele’s backyard with his Dad as he kicks around fruit.

Strong relationships with family are shown.

Pele (Kevin de Paula), Leonardo Lima Carvalho (younger Pele), Mariana Nunes (Pele’s mother Celeste), Vincent D’Onofrio (Coach)

Jeffrey Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist (Writers/Directors)