I can't recall a movie in recent years that has swiped me of my feet so completely like Mario did. It's cute, heartwarming, emotional, cruel, sad and heartbreaking all together. The acting of all the actors is superb, but especially Max and Aaron. Their chemistry is wonderful and the way the story develops from a bit of rivalry to friendship to lovers is believable, heartwarming and spot on. My favourite scenes are the ones in the bus after the practice (the Amy Winehouse-talk), the fair (Mario giving that dolphin-key to Leon) and ofcourse that night-gaming session were Leon takes the risk of kissing Mario. But also the hesitation of Mario after that first kiss and then kissing Leon back a few days later after some private thinking is touching.The acting of the boys get's stronger and stronger in the second part of the movie were they both act differently on the situation of being pressured to keep their affair hidden in this nongay-friendly football world.Tears were in my eyes at that last few scènes.
I totally understand why Marcel Gisler made the choice to give this movie a sad ending, because it's a pretty accurate reflection of the current situation in modern football and being gay as a player. I also read he isn't a fan of a second movie. Nevertheless I hope he and the other writers and cast will consider doing a sequel of this story. Not because that Mario and Leon need to end up together at all cost (although that would be a nice side-effect) but mainly because this movie raised so much discussion in the press in a lot of countries about why active gay players still have trouble coming out in the current footballworld (the big leagues) and the sadness, depression and loneliness this players suffer being in the closet. It would be sad to let that momentum die now. Where the first movie adresses the problem, the sequel could be a guide for football clubs how they should come to terms with players that are gay and sees us Mario coming out after all (for example at St Pauli or being a Swiss national team-player) and choose for love and football with Leon at his side. So Mr Gisler, I hope you use your magic touch with this fantastic cast&crew for a second time.
I totally understand why Marcel Gisler made the choice to give this movie a sad ending, because it's a pretty accurate reflection of the current situation in modern football and being gay as a player. I also read he isn't a fan of a second movie. Nevertheless I hope he and the other writers and cast will consider doing a sequel of this story. Not because that Mario and Leon need to end up together at all cost (although that would be a nice side-effect) but mainly because this movie raised so much discussion in the press in a lot of countries about why active gay players still have trouble coming out in the current footballworld (the big leagues) and the sadness, depression and loneliness this players suffer being in the closet. It would be sad to let that momentum die now. Where the first movie adresses the problem, the sequel could be a guide for football clubs how they should come to terms with players that are gay and sees us Mario coming out after all (for example at St Pauli or being a Swiss national team-player) and choose for love and football with Leon at his side. So Mr Gisler, I hope you use your magic touch with this fantastic cast&crew for a second time.