KICKING IT

Directed By Susan Koch

Review By Kim Jindra

Kicking It is an inspiring look at how a simple football (soccer ball) can impact the lives of the world's homeless.  Director, Susan Koch decides to follow seven homeless men, who are as diverse as the countries they represent, in their quest to compete in the 2006 Homeless World Cup. 

Like most Americans, I have seen a bit of soccer but I am not a rabid fan.  But this form of street football which is much quicker and in your face than the regular game, might just be the ticket to really popularizing the sport here.  The pace is more akin to arena (U.S.) football or even basketball.  The action was exciting but then maybe I was just caught up in the lives of the players and coaches.

The seven subjects in this film are among the 500 homeless players selected from 48 countries.  Since every team is populated with homeless players I almost felt guilty rooting for the film's heroes.  Yet every one of them tugged at my heart.  This is not the typical small town team overcoming obstacles to win the big game.  Each player has issues from drug and alcohol addiction to abandonment and despair. 

Admittedly, some of these people we would pointedly avoid under normal circumstances.   Koch and her crew have done a great job of humanizing the players.  Former bank robber, turned alcoholic Jesus is almost one of the lucky ones, because, at least he sleeps in a Spanish shelter.  Others, like Ireland's Simon sleep under a bush.  Simon isn't proud of his homelessness.  He is struggling not to become a statistic like his older brother who lost his battle with heroin.  Simon has been clean for 18 months and uses football to manage his addiction as does his teammate Damien who is locked in his own battle with methadone.

And we learn how Russian Slava became an illegal in his own country simply because he left his village to improve his life in the city of St. Petersburg.  Since neither he nor his coach and teammates have a residence permit they can't legally work or have a place of residence.   They play with a mission.  They want Russia to admit there's a homeless problem.  They think winning the Homeless World Cup will force Russia's acknowledgment.  And I realized the world wide impact of American culture when their homeless coach said, "in the words of Jimmy Morrison, we want to break on through to the other side".

A different kind of acknowledgment is what U.S. player Craig wants.  He is one of eight very angry U.S. players. Craig spent his childhood playing musical foster homes and then is dumped on the street at 18.  He is very bitter.  But coach Lawrence Cann sees something in young Craig.   Unlike the Russian coach, Cann knows his group of hot heads can't make a bid for the title.  He is just hoping his team, and especially Craig, can regain their trust through team sport.

And the Spanish coach, Saul, purposefully picked people with good hearts rather than good athletes for his team.  He chose those who needed a second chance.  In addition to 63 year old Jesus, his team consists of former drug addicts, alcoholics and a prostitute.   I think of all the coaches, Saul was the one who touched me the most.  He just wanted his guys to feel good and have fun.  He worried about his team's feelings not their losses.

Young Najib of Afghanistan gave us our romance.  He and his mother survived the Taliban but the rest of their family did not.   Life today is not much better except he can openly play football.  Football was forbidden under the Taliban.   He is a fierce competitor.  But it is his love of life that shines through.  His innocent delight at being able to see, touch and speak to a Paraguayan girl is heartwarming.

Equally touching is Alex from the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.  He has nothing but football and a community of poor people who adore him enough to build a football "pitch" so he can teach children the proper way to play the sport he loves.  He is already a hero in the eyes of his people but he can't see the woods for the trees.  He plays with the hope he will be seen by professional scouts so he can do more for his people.

So the challenge becomes which team/player to support. All seven of the players are endearing.  I empathasized with the coaches. Koch expertly weaves the personal stories with the football.  Kicking It has something for everyone - quick sports action, thought provoking social situations, romance, redemption, competition and ultimately a window into the lives of very special people. 

Don't miss this one.