Historias de fútbol

Three stories about football, one of the most important of twentieth-century rituals. A third division player from Santiago de Chile is bribed, but does not realise that his behaviour betrays more than the loyalty of his team-mates. A boy from Calama, Chile wins the local derby pichanga, a soccer match that can last all afternoon, but he loses the few pesos he acquired by pawning his mother's last possessions. Francisco, a boy from the city, is stuck in a remote corner of the southern island of Chiloé on the day that Chile has to play its qualifying match for the World Cup. The only TV is in the house of the Serón sisters. While the local male population gathers to watch the match, the sisters decide which of them will initiate the young Francisco into love.This charming and revealing film has received praise on all sides, both from audiences and the international press. 'Not since Johnny 100 Pesos have we seen good Chilean cinema. This is a true gem, comparable to the best Chilean literary tradition.' (Ana Josefa Silva). 'A sprightly and confident omnibus feature. The three tales share a certain raffish, deadpan tenor, via astute pacing, performances and soundtrack-music choices. (Dennis Harvey, Variety).