STREETBALL, The Homeless World Cup

As one audience member shared, “I had an impression of what was going to happen, but I was wrong, and that was great. The story in this documentary is better than anything that could have been written.”  The feature documentary, Streetball, follows the lives of several homeless men in South Africa as they train for the international competition, the Homeless World Cup.  Like the FIFA World Cup, athletes train from all over the world to meet in a host city and compete for the first place title.  The teams are comprised entirely of homeless men and women and street soccer is the tool used to provide the inspiration and focus that leads many of them to leave their lives of drug abuse, crime and street life.

Streetball recently premiered in New York City at Lincoln Center.  Unlike many documentaries, there is no narrator in this film.  The men tell their own stories and organically take audiences on a tour of their lives, their former “sleeping places” on street corners and shelters and inside the details of their dreams and struggles.  The film is textured with performances by local South African musicians including Neo-Soul/Mbaqanga/Hip Hop sensation, UJU (appearing courtesy of Sony Music Africa / Sony ATV Music Publishing Africa), Hip Hop heads, ETC Crew and spoken word poet, Kgafela oa Magogodi.  Decorated by the work and wisdom of famed street artist FAITH47 (seen recently in galleries in Brussels, Berlin, Sweden, Kenya, Cape Town, Los Angeles, New York City and Birmingham) it is a look unlike any other into the post-apartheid generation of South Africans.

Streetball was funded by the organization, From Us With Love.  From Us With Love supports communities across South Africa, meeting the needs of nursery schools, orphanages and health care facilities in impoverished areas.  One of the projects they fund is the street soccer league and all proceeds from Streetball go back into their work across South Africa.

The intimate and personal nature of the film came to life as Streetball was made by a crew of only two.  Director, Demetrius Wren and Producer, Christina Ghubril used a relatively small, handheld camera and built relationships with the players over the course of two years.  The film is chock-full of thought provoking nuggets from men that are often seen as tough and even impenetrable.  And it highlights the fast paced and thrilling game that is street soccer.

Streetball takes you on a great ride. One complaint is that the portion of the film that covers the team from 2009 is not as comprehensive as the focus that’s put on the 2008 team. At only 80 minutes long, it’s hard to believe it spans the course of two years.   Perhaps what is most moving is that audiences leave feeling like these guys are their friends, brothers, confidants. You’ll want to know what happens next!  Watch the trailer above for more on this moving, heartfelt story.

-  Christina Ghubril

Brought to you by Africology.

For more on Streetball, including screening dates in a city near you, check out their website at www.streetballfilm.com.