Maradona is the modern
equivalent of a Greek tragedy.
An extraordinarily talented hero rises to
fame and glory, but ultimately he is
defeated by his own fatal flaws 
- hubris, insecurity, a weak will.
To watch the legendary footballer go
from a handsome strapping athlete
to an overweight teary cocaine addict 
is heartbreaking.
Asif Kapadia's documentary is 
a deep dive into the magic of football
and the frailty, not just of one man 
but of the species.
This film is the third in what has been called 
the 'tragic fame documentary trilogy'.
The first two are Senna 
and the Oscar-winning Amy.
These films immerse us into the lives of
individuals who are marked by genius and tragedy.
Over three films, Asif has created 
and honed a signature style of
recreating lives purely through astutely curated 
archival footage and voiceovers.
There are no talking heads 
or re-enactments.
Nobody tells you that 
Maradona was ferocious on the field.
You see it.
And, it is a sight to behold.
I don't know anything about football, 
so the nuances of the game were lost on me.
But, to see Maradona guide a ball 
with the grace of a ballerina
and the precision of a missile
is a thing of beauty.
You appreciate it as you would 
a great work of art.
But this film is about 
so much more than football.
It starts in 1984, when the player 
is bought by Napoli,
the poorest and weakest team in Italy.
At his first press conference, 
Maradona is asked about the local mafia.
But the team doesn't remain
 an underdog for long.
Maradona propels it 
to number one status
and in the process, 
becomes a deity.
As one local puts it, 
"You can't criticize God."
In 1986, the boy who grew up in a Buenos Aires slum wins the World Cup trophy for Argentina.
Through this spectacular ascent, you see 
the pressures operating on this lone man
and the shadows that will eventually 
derail his glorious career.
But even the derailing is spectacular.
Drugs, mafia, a son he refused to
acknowledge for 30 years,
tabloid mania, screaming fans, 
nightclubs, prostitutes,
wiretapping and 
absolute gut-wrenching despair.
At one point, we see him at a Christmas party 
in Naples, gazing distantly,
almost as though he realized
that the good times were over.
After the 1986 win, a sports expert described
Maradona is a little bit of cheating
and a lot of genius.
Which pretty much
summarizes his life.
This is a moving, emotionally charged 
cautionary tale.
I highly recommend that you see it!
For more reviews like this,
subscribe to Film Companion.
And, don't forget to 
check out our new property
Off The Page with 
Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
