Pablo Escobar in The Two Escobars.
Review: The Two Escobars
This telling and deeply affecting documentary will satisfy both sports buffs and history junkies.
By Aireka Muse
Published: November 5th, 2010 | 9:50am
The Two Escobars, ESPN’s intense documentary exploring the lives of drug lord Pablo Escobar and Colombia’s beloved soccer player Andrés Escobar, is a detailed historical journey highlighting the powerful relationship between community and sport. Pablo and Andrés, two men known and loved by their country, are unrelated but their lives couldn’t help but become intertwined.
Originally, director-producers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist brothers set out to investigate the tragic murder of Andrés—Colombia’s championship defender who was murdered after mistakenly making a goal against his own team during the 1994 World Cup. As the brothers started to piece together Andrés' story they realized the foundation of the tragic account could not be fully explored without the telling of Colombia’s intrinsic connection between drugs and soccer—the true cause of Andrés' death.
Narco Futbol is the term coined to describe Colombia’s secret underground world of money laundering that plagued the country’s soccer league in the '80s and '90s. The funds that undeniably supported Andre’s team Atlético Nacional came from Pablo Escobar.
The film powerfully explores Pablo’s complicated relationship with his country and community. In some circles he is hated while others revered. Throughout his life, Pablo remained dedicated to the poor and built various soccer fields in the slums. At an early age, many of the professional soccer players were already influenced by Pablo’s said generosity and saw him as a god rather than someone to be feared. But Andrés was different—deeply spiritual and dedicated to the good in others—he worked to distance himself from the kingpin and Pablo’s involvement in the game, but couldn’t distance himself from the affect of the crime industry.
Aside from the true accounts of a country and its complicated heritage, it's the Zimbalist brothers amazing access to raw footage with key figures that is the film’s most impressive quality. Interviews from Pablo’s sister Luz Maria Escobar, Andrés' sister Maria Ester, Pablo’s right-hand man in the Medellin Cartel Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez; and Colombia’s former president Cesar Bavaria personalize the film and ultimately give it its power.
The Two Escobars elegantly highlights the mirror relation between societal woes and athletics. So often what is being dealt with in a community happens to show up on the field. The drug industries hand within the sport not only allowed Colombia’s players opportunity never afforded but also caused the terror and worry leading to Andrés' simple yet tragic mistake. Ironically, the film also examines a brave outlook on Pablo Escobar’s persona as a nuisance versus being a savior to his community. Is it possible his death was more of a detriment to Colombian society then an actual improvement? The Two Escobars raises a controversial question: If Pablo Escobar had been alive in 1994, might Andrés Escobar, an eloquent athlete with a strong love and appreciation of his country, still be with us today?
The film succeeds in satisfying both the sport buff and the history junkie while at the same time as it's deeply moving. The Two Escobars is a must see for those interested in learning about the one drug lord that successfully terrified the world as well as understand the innocent people his domination couldn’t help but tragically affect.
The Two Escobars, an ESPN production originally aired as part of the network's 30 for 30 series and is scheduled to release on DVD in November.
Issue #44
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