A 2019 movie by Chilean director Alejandro Fernández Almendras about a young Chilean boy, Tito, who meets and befriends real-life Chilean soccer star Alexis Sánchez.
This work contains examples of:
- As Himself: Alexis Sánchez appears as himself throughout the film.
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Awesome Music: The film showcases many Chilean talents, such as Los Jaivas, a famous Chilean folk/rock band, on the soundtrack. - Bias Steamroller: A number of the critics attack Alexis Sánchez himself (who the year before had accepted a deal with Manchester United in a move many saw as mercenary, and where he ended up under-performing) rather than the actual quality of the film—which many of the reviewers confessed to not even have seen.
- Coming of Age Story: Two of them. Through flashbacks, we see Alexis's childhood and the psychological turning point that drove him to push himself to be the country's best soccer player. In Tito's case, he learns to stand up for himself and tell his father that he does not want to be a professional soccer player, while developing a more mature relationship with his father.
- Determinator: Alexis Sánchez. He grew up in incredibly impoverished circumstances in Tocapilla, the "most forgotten city in the remotest corner of Chile," where he was so poor he would sometimes practice barefoot. He played with older, stronger athletes and did not give up even when games got rough, eventually earning his way to the Chilean national team and some of the best soccer clubs in the world.
- Easily Forgiven: Tito by Alexis, after he steals the ball with which Alexis scored the winning goal in the 2015 Copa América that was signed by the Chilean national team.
- Flashback B-Plot: We see the circumstances of Alexis's childhood and some of his experiences when he was around Tito's age (about eleven years old) throughout the story.
- Germans Love David Hasselhoff: Reviews from non-Chileans (especially non-Spanish speakers) of the film regard it far more positively than Chileans and Spanish speakers, who tend to be harder on the plot, script, and Sánchez's performance.
- I Shall Taunt You: Tito's dad when he accuses of Alexis thinking himself to be above poor people like Tito's family (despite Alexis's impoverished childhood being well-known), in an effort to goad him into helping Tito get ahead. It works.
- Only Sane Man: Tito's mom, who calls his father on his more concerning behavior with Tito and soccer (for example, frequently pulling Tito out of school to practice or for a tryout). Alexis is this as well, and is ultimately the one who is able to gently guide Tito's dad to the realization that he's treated his children poorly.
- Parental Favoritism: Tito's dad with Tito, HARD. Gloria, despite displaying much more drive and ability, is dismissed as a girl who's soccer abilities are only as useful as they help Tito.
- Passionate Sports Girl: Tito's older sister Gloria, a goaltender who loves soccer much more than Tito does and aspires to play professionally. Even Alexis notes her abilities when he watches her play.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Alexis, as a child playing against much older, larger players and now as an adult at 5'7", he outplays some significantly larger opponents.
- Running Away to Cry: Tito, after he gets knocked around at his tryout for the under-15 soccer team (he is all of eleven years old) by athletes who are much larger and stronger than him. His dad yells at him for not putting in enough effort, and Tito runs away. He ends up getting on a bus and going to Alexis's house to apologize for stealing the ball.
- Sports Dad: The central plot of the film. Tito's dad pushes him to excel at soccer so that he can play professionally and lift the family out of poverty. Tito, however, isn't so keen on the idea.
- Stay in the Kitchen: Of the athletic variety. Tito's father tolerates Tito's sister, Gloria, practicing soccer with them as long as she's helping Tito. When she tries to bring up her dreams of playing soccer professionally, he dismisses them and tells her to come up with a new dream as women can't be professional soccer players (in his mind).
- Taking Advantage of Generosity:
- Vicariously Ambitious: Tito's father, who never got to live out his own dreams of soccer stardom and fortune, pushes Tito to accomplish what he could not.
