Kuno Becker
The movie is one of the best American made movie in a long time. The film is based on an amazing gifted young immigrant soccer player living in the barrios of East Los Angeles. Santiago Munez a Mexican born, has an impossible dream playing for a world class team. He is a Mexican cook in Los Angeles, and gets a chance to follow his dream of playing professional soccer. A talent scout with contacts in the United Kingdom spots him a public park in Los Angeles and offers a once in a lifetime chance.
Santiago Munez was born in Mexico, as a young child he played soccer in the unpaved streets in the town that he was born and lived in as a child. his father was a single parent of two children, Santiago being the oldest and his little brother. His mother ran out on them when he was a small child. He lived in Mexico with his grandmother, father and little brother. Santiago’s father wanted a better life for his children, so he decided to make a move to the United States. In order for them to cross the border, they had to find a coyote to do so. When they were crossing the border Santiago had a soccer ball with him that he never let go. He loves to play soccer, since a very young age. As they were crossing he dropped ball and dad told him to leave it but he refuses to do so. He ran back and got it, just in time to get away from the border patrol.
Santiago gets an opportunity to grow up in the United States with his grandmother, brother and his father. In the United States his father works for a gardening company where his father is a gardener. Since, his mother is not around, he has no choice but to work to help the family. Santiago works at night as a busboy in a Chinese restaurant and in the day, he works with his father as a gardener. In addition, he plays soccer for a small local club team called the AJFC, were he is the star of the team. The money that he makes from working, part of it he saves inside a boot in his closet and some of it to help with the bills.
As time goes on, one day he is playing at a local park where he is seen by Glen Foy, an ex-Newcastle soccer player, scout and mechanic. He wants to help Santiago to play for Newcastle, so he calls an agent but he never showed. Glen Foy, then calls on the Newcastle boss to give Santiago an opportunity to try out for the team. He gets the opportunity, but in the process his father steals the money that he had to travel. Santiago’s father wanted, him to do as he did to become part owner of the gardening company. Santiago’s dream and goal was always to become a professional soccer player.
In the process, his grandmother helps him with the plane ticket to England to follow his dream on becoming a professional soccer player. As he goes to try out, he has a few issues and was cut from the team. He then, gets a second chance and makes the team in the process. While he is over in England playing for the team his dad passes away. However, his dad did get a chance to watch him play on television and was very proud of his son. Santiago become part of the team because of his hard work, dedication, commitment and determination to follow his dream. The film ends with Santiago shedding tears of joy while embracing his realized dream. This is a great movie not only for athletes but also for the entire immigrant Hispanic community to see, that dreams to come true, only if you follow them.
Many of the things that, I notice in the movie reminded me of, most of the Latino movies that we screened while in class. There are a few similarities with the Born in East LA movie, in regards to crossing the border and having to work for money to be able to pay for bills and food. I also, noted some similarities with the movie Real Women Have Curves, in which they want to become someone in life and not take after their parents. They want to have their own life and be successful at it. Furthermore, the movie Goal, had some similarities with the show Ugly Betty in which they had determination and would not give up until they reached their goal.