Credit: Jeremy Yap – free to use under the Unsplash license
Sports are a big part of our culture and society. Some of the biggest sports are enjoyed by billions of people around the globe. Football, for example, is the most popular sport, enjoying a fan base of over 3 billion fans the world over. It is especially popular in England, Brazil, South Africa, and China, however, it enjoys massive popularity in most countries around the world.
This love that people have of sports, has often been translated to popular media. In the early 20th century, boxing novels were all the rage. During the 70s and 80s, a plethora of sports films were produced, tackling different sports, and all telling a similar story, of an underdog team rising to the task and defeating their opponents.
But Hollywood is not the only place where great sports films are produced. In this article, we are going to take a look at a few international sports films that are worth your time.
Lagaan
This Indian musical sports epic is definitely one for the ages. Coming in at almost 4 hours long, the film is set in the late Victorian period, and tells the tale of a small Indian village, whose residents are unable to pay their taxes. As a joke, the captain of the British Indian Army challenges the village’s residents to a game of cricket, which, if they win, will exempt them from paying their taxes.
A bold undertaking by director Ashutosh Gowariker, the film is definitely worth checking out by any fan of cricket, historical epics, or musicals. It incorporates the love that most Indians have of sports, and on the back of that builds a truly fantastic story, worth checking out. In India, cricket is one of the biggest and most popular sports, and websites like Sportsadda.com are frequently used by Indian residents to keep up with the fixtures and results of various cricket matches.
Bend it Like Beckham
From India to England, we are taking a look at the British film, Bend it Like Beckham next. The movie tells the story of an 18-year-old British-Indian girl, who has her heart set on a career in football. Despite her parents’ protest, she joins a local women’s football club, and against all odds, the club makes it all the way to the top of the league.
The film was met with mostly positive reviews, and won several awards. It draws its title from famous British footballer, David Beckham, who became famous as a scorer, whose free kicks curved the ball past the opposition’s defense.
Bayonet
Taking a look, lastly, at combat sports, Bayonet is a Mexican film, telling the story of a disgraced boxer, Miguel Galindez, nicknamed Bayoneta. After his life is turned upside down by a turbulent and unforeseen event, Galindez settles in Finland, leaving behind his life and his family. He wastes his life away, until he is given the opportunity to get back in the ring and win back his fame, pride, and self-respect.
Boxing is one of the biggest combat sports in the world, still drawing in the biggest crowds and making the most money from its matches. This is also true in Mexico, where the sport is one of the most popular and beloved sports in general. While Bayonet might not stand at the top of the pile, with some of the greatest boxing movies ever produced, it is still a great story in its own right, dealing more with the drama and psychology of a person, rather than focusing on the sport.
