The Two Escobars

One of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen. I liked the director's unbiased approach to telling this story. The poor people of Colombia didn't love Pablo because he was a drug dealer, they loved him because he was their savior. In the Americas Colombia has the third most number of Blacks behind U.S. and Brazil. In Colombia, just like U.S. and Brazil, the Blacks are predominantly poor and uneducated and governments do nothing but flood ghettos with drugs and welfare systems to barely keep people breathing. Pablo didn't flood the ghettos with drugs, he instead built schools, hospitals, houses and soccer fields. I am not praising Pablo for being a drug dealer, but let's not sit here and pretend that our leaders are not as corrupt as the leaders were in Colombia.

I am a very big football (soccer) fan, and I have always been intrigued by the story behind Andres Escobar's own goal and the chain of events that the event triggered.

At first when I saw the trailers and ads on ESPN I wasn't too sure about also including Pablo Escobar in the same documentary, but boy was I wrong. This is one of the most powerful documentaries I have ever watched, it should be of high interest to anybody, not only football fans, and football was just an excuse for ESPN to show it in my opinion.

The story of Colombia is an incredible story that needs to be told and shown to people who live in similar countries, Mexico should take note on the film and the violent history of the very rich nation which is Colombia.

I hope to watch it again as soon as it is released on Blu Ray, and I would highly encourage you to watch it and be moved by the incredible story behind Pablo Escobar and the people of Colombia. I did and it completely changed my perspective in the way I judged Pablo Escobar, though now I have a lot more questions on the topic, but I plan to do a little reading after today.

10 out 10

I feel that this documentary must be praised for its openness. The lack of bias displayed by the films writer/directors must be applauded. Sure, there may be the odd thing in this film that people may question or debate. However when you consider all the happenings and parties that are involved in the events of this story. Then you can easily see that this really is an amazingly well told and open minded attempt to tell this complex and far reaching tale. People from multiple sides are given a chance to express their views, and that is exactly how documentaries should be.

The Two Escobars...

They were two of the most prominent faces in Columbia. Both men became fairly well known figures around the globe. Two very different men with the same name, both raised in the vast poverty of the Colombian slums, and both with similar bloody fates.

One, Andres Escobar, the Captain of the beloved Colombian National Soccer Team. A man of integrity who was slated to play European Football for the legendary Real Madrid in Spain. The other, Pablo Escobar, the world's most notorious multi-billion dollar drug dealer of his time. Strangely enough, to the vast majority of the Colombian people, they both became national heroes. One was an honourable and inspirational athletic hero, the other gained his local reputation as a Robin Hood of sorts. While the lives of the two Escobars raised the hopes and dreams of their country to heights never seen before or since. Their deaths shook the Colombian dreams into a chaotic nightmare. This documentary is the story of how two men with the same name left a long and lasting impression not only on Columbia, but on the world.

This is an incredible story. Watch it, thank me later. ;)

9.5/10

I don't know how the Zimbalist brothers managed to portray with such perfection the truth behind the last thirty years of Colombian history, they did an outstanding job. I really felt moved watching this documentary made for the ESPN series 30 for 30. It reflects all the pain and suffering mixed with the joy for the game of football (soccer)and the wonderful team of players we had at that time, the best ever. It shows the good and the evil, the yin and yang of human nature in the symbol of such wonderful man as was Andres Escobar and the ruthless evil figure of Pablo Escobar also shown to have a good side. This was captured in a very objective manner again a wonderful job by the Zimbalist brothers. Although being from Colombia, some of the stories told in the documentary were just gossip to me at the time but watching it, confirms all of it as true, a sad but true episode that we still carry to this day.

This fascinating documentary was made as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series and highlights the rise of soccer in Colombia in the 1980s. Naturally, the infusion of drug money helped build the teams and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar got behind the National team. The other Escobar in the story is Andrés Escobar, a middle class kid who grew up to be the captain of this team. Soccer fans take their sport VERY seriously and this film showcases that. There are quite a few shocking things that happen to the team as they made their way to the World Cup in the United States in 1994 that will make cringe. Directors Jeff & Michael Zimbalist use tons of old footage and seamlessly bounce from the war on drugs to the wars on the soccer fields. Now when you get me to care about soccer, you know you've done something right.