The insatiable passion for soccer is sometimes hard to fathom as we in the West have so many diversions and other sports to follow. For a large number of countries throughout the globe though, football is the only truly accessible sport and one that is of ultimate importance. Into this world was born one Diego Armando Maradona. He was born in a poor Argentina slum and rose out of the squalor to become very rich and very famous.

As much as the film is an examination of his once in a lifetime talent, it is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked adulation, idol worship and the sadness of a drug addiction left to fester while the addict creates wealth for others. It is also a statement on the macho mentality where asking for help with addiction is seen as a weakness.

Overall, the film has a slight reliance on the audience having more than a passing knowledge of the subject matter and the structure is non-linear and can at times feel a little scattered. Maradona was a complex individual and these minor issues become secondary in the telling of such an interesting subject.

Diego Maradona releases in Australian cinemas on July 25, 2019.

Rob Hudson
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On 5th July 1984, Diego Maradona arrived in Naples for a world-record fee. For seven years all hell broke loose. The world’s most celebrated football icon and the most passionate but dangerous city in Europe were a perfect match for each other.

On the pitch, Diego Maradona was a genius. Off the pitch, he was treated like a God. The charismatic Argentine loved a fight against the odds and led Napoli to their first-ever title. It was the stuff of dreams.

But there was a price… Diego could do as he pleased while performing miracles on the pitch but, as time passed, darker days closed in.

DIEGO MARADONA is directed by Asif Kapadia.

DIEGO MARADONA releases in Australian cinemas on July 25, 2019.
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