Seve: The Movie

Seve the Movie was about professional golfer, Seve Ballesteros. The film recounted his early life, showing how became interested in golfing growing up in Spain. It shows the struggles Ballesteros faced while growing up on a farm and having to forgo his love of playing the game in order to further his education. Jose Luis Gutierrez plays a young Seve, and he was absolutely incredible in this role. Interspersed throughout the recreated parts of Ballesteros' story is archival footage of him playing in various tournaments such as the Masters and the PGA European Tour. There were also interviews, which I found helped the story along, as he talked about the moments from his childhood that the movie had just recounted in the previous scene. I have never before been interested in the game of golf, but Seve's story was so incredible and so inspirational that I might have to try to participate and maybe even watch a few tournaments. This movie is a must-see for everyone, but particularly if you love the sport.

Seve the Movie is a smart and unconventional biopic that is as every bit entertaining as it is informative. Director John-Paul Davidson's fourth feature is centered on Seve Ballesteros, who shines throughout his pre-teens to adulthood as Spain's finest golfer. Newcomer José Luis Gutiérrez does an exceptional job portraying young Seve as he faces odds at home, school, and his caddy job at the golf course his brother works at. Throughout the film, there are cuts to documentary footage that make it clear Seve accomplishes his aspiration to be a pro-golfer. Despite knowing the outcome of Seve's career, the film does a great job keeping the audience's attention and emotions invested in young Seve. Furthermore, the cinematography fully realizes the setting of 1970s Spain. Seve the Movie tells Seve Ballesteros' life story in a way that is engaging and inspiring.

I hardly ever give things 10 out of 10, bar Casablanca and Seven, but this film certainly achieves what it sets out to: an enthusiastically-told tribute to what must've been an amazing man. Slightly saccharine flashbacks to his childhood are offset by jaw-dropping footage, interesting interviews and an ending which keeps picking up in emotive punch.

Self-indulgence, however, is never a problem (despite a near two-hour running time) as the flashbacks actually end up serving the documentary footage well (the young Seve is a revelation, albeit in a highly specialised role) while the real Seve and his contemporaries add more gravitas, relevance, humour and pathos to the making of this great sportsman.

Rounded of with a thumping if samey score, this gets top marks for innovation. One or two less for overall enjoyment perhaps, but that's merely the limit of the story's limited confines. Different, dazzling in places, but they make the best of what's available. And no-one should be penalised for that.

As someone who by and large is totally indifferent to sport, reviewing a film about the life of a golfing legend might not be a highly objective task although I would still do my best.

Ultimately, this film is about talent and that talent will find a way to flourish no matter what the obstacles are.

Seve grew up in a low middle class Spanish household, the son of a farmer. Nothing could be further from his world than golf. Early on in life, he developed an interest that grew with the passing of time to become a full blown passion. That young boy knew he was meant to play golf. Thus, after school and on term time developing his skills as a golfer was the only thing on Seve's mind.

The obstacles were of course plenty. Not doing well in school, pressure from home resulted in everything being against him. That did not diminish his passion by one iota. His determination, caused his parents to come to realise that this youngster had made up his mind about life and gold is his choice.

From then on, his talent was quickly recognised within his home town, then Spain and ended up becoming an internationally acclaimed sporting personality.

Like mentioned earlier, talent will find a way and Seve's found his, illuminating the world of golf.

Seve: The Movie succeeds in creating a tribute to the great Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros which both acts as documentary and a universal, engaging story of passion and perseverance. A mixture of conventional, archive-based documentary and dramatized biopic – Director John-Paul Davidson does a masterful job of fleshing out the past of young Ballesteros. Child actor Jose Luis Gutierrez convincingly takes on this role. While lesser films would have delved into melodrama, Seve: The Movie shows the failures as well as the triumphs to give a sense of realism to the making of one of golf's legends. Flitting between footage of its subject's triumphs at the British Open and US Masters, and a reenactment of his impoverished childhood as a farmer's son in Spain, the charismatic figure of Ballesteros shines through. Filled with passion, charm, and occasional humor, the film will have you cheering on this golfing pro whether you are familiar with him at the onset of the movie or not.