The Two Escobars

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.

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.

The first hour and a half detailed the ascent of Colombian soccer and the link to Pablo Escobar and the other drug lords. Then the last half hour is a whole lot of people talking about how their lives were adversely affected by Pablo Escobar death highlighted by two individuals both wearing costumes, but very different costumes. The first costumed individual would be really easy to guess not by name but by what they are wearing prison jumpsuit. Pablos murdering "right hand man" who admits to killing hundreds of people with his bare hands and thousands more with gun and bombs placed in building and on planes for the sole purpose of ending Colombia's extradition treaty with the US the second costumed individual was Pablos sister and her costume was that of a very wealthy incredibly well dressed with vey expensive jewelry and strangely I have a much bigger problem with her than the strangling mad bomber psychopath. The psychopath says exactly what you'd expect "the government" was as bad as they are throwing in that they were in league with the other cartels. The sister first claims, like every criminals family who has lived that they had no idea where the money came from then after she knows where the money comes from goes on TV the day Pablo pays for his (and her) opulence she vows that his death won't end the violence inciting murder the kidnapping of family members of those who opposed and facilitated his justified end. Andres Escobar was a hero his whole life never once hurting anyone and at one point he risked death by refusing to go to the prison when summoned by Pablo. Unfortunately the story of Andres life is such a small part of this which is immediately overshadowed by the rest of the corrupt individuals saying whoa is me including the former president of Colombian soccer who went to prison for helping launder billions of dollars in drug money who claims he is a victim when he help to facilitate murder on an enormous scale. This plays fast and loose with the facts and try's to turn the US government as bad because of the role they played in riding the world of the evil of the "Two Escobars." If you don't want to be on the verge of puking with disgust at very selfish people claiming they are victims when they helped victimize other stop watching after the video of Andres Escobar is shown.

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.

30 for 30: The Two Escobars (2010)

**** (out of 4)

This entry in the ESPN series is somewhat of a masterpiece even though while watching the thing you have to keep reminding yourself that it's all true and not some sort of strange fiction from Hollywood. The documentary tells the story of Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar whose love for soccer had him donating money and soon various other dealers were involved in the sport. We also meet Andres Escobar, a Colombian player who in the 1994 World Cup scored a goal against his own team and soon after wards he was murdered. That just briefly sums up the story told here but it goes even further as Pablo is buying off the government to continue his trade but when he's killed, the underworld pretty much went wild, which could have been one of the reasons why Andres was allowed to be killed. This documentary runs just under two-hours and it's some of the most amazing and downright sad images you're likely to see. Learning how the drug trade pretty much took over the sport and then eventually brought it down. While watching this film it was hard to believe that all of this took place such a short time ago and the fact that this own goal was scored against the U.S.. Directors Jeff and Michael Zimbalist do a terrific job at building an incredibly tense atmosphere that is constantly flowing throughout the film. They really make you feel uneasy while watching these events so you can imagine how horrid it must have been for the players and coaches. The film does a very good job at telling all sides of the story. To some poor people Pablo was seen as a God-like person even though he was killing hundreds of people. Seeing how evil someone could be but at the same time he probably saved thousands by building them homes, keeping food on their table and by making jobs for them. With Andres, reports would vary about what really caused his death but the site of sports players going around with death threats and bodyguards is certainly something you don't see everyday. The amount of danger they were dealing with makes for some pretty big revelations towards the end of the movie. Once again ESPN must be given a lot of credit for playing this movie uncut as it does features some very risky subject matter and contains some bloody images of the death surrounding these events. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles, which was another brave move by ESPN but once again this series pays off.