El CLASICO, MORE THAN A GAME
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 9:19PM El Clásico, More than a Game
A film about the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona FC
MARCH 10, 2012 at 7:30PM
The soccer rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is not only one of the most intense and most watched sporting events in the world, it is also the most deeply complex socially, politically and culturally.
El Clasico – More Than a Game, looks closely at what makes this rivalry what it is. The film examines Spanish history and the conflicts that have divided Spain and these two teams. We look at the distinct regions of Spain and how the fans have expressed themselves culturally through soccer. And we explore the ways in which political loyalties and different conceptions of Spain have impacted these respective teams and cities.
In this film you will meet the great stars of today: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and how they have impacted the playing styles of their teams. We examine how the teams changed in relation to Spanish and Catalan history and how the teams became not just symbols of a region but representative of a way of life. We look at the emotional commitments of the fans and what drives their passion. And we cover the intense match-ups that have only grown more contentious in recent years.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the most widely recognized team “brands” in the world. Whenever they play, all of Spain stops to watch and countless millions in the rest of the world tune in to their television sets. El Clasico captures the history of Spain, the traditions, the regional identity and the passion that makes these matches some of the most exciting in the world.
The documentary is evenly divided between interviews in English and Spanish, with the current version having English subtitles for Spanish speakers.
The clubs have granted access to our film crew and the project counts with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture. We gained access to team practices, games, outings with players and individual and group interviews. We also met with some of Spain’s most outstanding and well known Journalists, historians, political scientists and philosophers. This film goes far beyond just the goal scoring and looks at the deeper levels of the game.
Players, former players and managers
Thierry Henry, Iker Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carles Puyol, Emilio Butragueño, Bojan Krkic, Gonzalo Higuaín, Andoni Zubizarreta, Diego Godín, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho
Journalists
John Carlin, Phil Ball, Sid Lowe, Santiago Segurola, Ramon Besa, Ray Hudson
Writeres/ Celebrities
Joan Gaspart, Josep Ramoneda, Rabih Alameddine, Daniel Alarcón, Pedro Ruiz, Alfonso UssíaHistorians/Political Scientists
Eduardo Calleja , Juan Pablo Fusi, Casilda Güell, Alex Quiroga, Eduardo Serra, Duncan Shaw, Jaume Sobrequés i Callicó, Josep Solé i Sabaté
We are very proud of this project and we are looking forward to bringing the cultures of Spain and Catalonia to the widest possible audience through this creative documentary.
Trailer can be viewed at: www.Elclasico.org
What People are saying about El Clasico – More Than a Game
El Clasico. It's terrific! It’s the perfect introduction to the match.
Joe McGinniss – Author of Selling of the President and The Miracle of Castel di Sangro
It must be the most comprehensive film/documentary yet on the subject. It's really the best thing I've seen on the rivalry by far. Phil Ball – Author of Morbo, The Story of Spanish Football
I thoroughly enjoyed the film. An ace job! Ray Hudson – former professional soccer player and current commentator for GolTV
I highly recommend the documentary El Clasico – More Than A Game to our readers and listeners. It is important for understanding the cultural significance of this great rivalry. Elisa Uranga - Forzafutbol
I watched El Clasico and loved it, not just as an ardent football fan but also as a lover of history. It crosses over from "more than a game" in the literal sense. Hugh Edwards – CEO, Aspect Film Ltd.