‘Warriors of a beautifud game’ (‘Warriors of a beautiful game’) is the name of the film co-directed by Kely Nascimento-DeLuca, the eldest daughter of Edson Arantes do Nascimento ‘Pel’, and to see the light at the end of the year. It’s about a documentary that tries to promote women’s football and equality. “Show people how beautiful this sport is and how passionate and incredible soccer players are. It is not a football story, but a story about gender equality. We wanted to capture the great changes that the women who came before us achieved. and the changes that are still needed and affect both sport and society “, explains Kely on the Front Page.
The film focuses on the story of Las Arajo, a 24-year-old soccer player who currently plays for the Madrid CFF of Primera Iberdrola and whose career began in the favelas of the Community of San Marcos, in Salvador de Baha. “It is difficult to come from where I come: drugs, weapons … it was not the best environment for some children. I grew up playing in the street with boys. We made goalkeepers with three sticks and we spent hours kicking an unstitched ball barefoot. The parents were very scared because every so often the police came in and shots were heard. The first thing my father did when he came home from work was to ask where he was. ‘On the street, playing football …’, my mother responded resignedly, ” Arajo account.
In 2008 she was discovered by Wilson Egdio, a soccer coach in the United States and Kely’s brother.. “I met Wilson because he came with his team to play a game with the boys from the community. He caught their attention because she was the only girl and because of how she played, I imagine … [se re]. I contacted Kely because at first I was going to do a photo session playing on the beach, but soon we connected. I didn’t know that I was Pel’s daughter until they told me about helping me go to the United States so that I could study there and be able to continue playing football, “he says.
He had no references in his childhood because he did not know that women could earn a living playing football. She remembers, still excited, that there was no television at home for a long time and that the first game she saw was Brazil’s against the United States in the semifinals of the 2007 World Cup, with a goal from Marta. “I want to be like that,” he told his parents. There are dreams, and this documentary wants to show that they come true.
“When I learned the story of Las I was amazed. I then started researching women’s football with my partner – and also director – Justin Noto and I was surprised by the inequalities and conditions that we discovered. I also realized that, as with race, reflect the inequalities of everyday society and we understood that we should tell that story “, Kely advances. Without a script but with enthusiasm, they began to pick up the phone to get enough push to carry the project forward.. ‘Hello, my name is Kely and I am Pel’s daughter’, counted when approaching someone. The documentary is executive produced by footballer Stephane M’Bia, ex-footballer Julie Foudy and the aforementioned Pel. “My father thinks soccer is too wonderful a gift to belong to one group of people. He firmly believes that soccer is for everyone,” Kely clarifies.
The film also has 25 testimonials among which stand out the names of icons such as Marta, Formiga, Abby Wambach, Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Chioma Ubogagu, Eniola Aluko, Marie.Antoinette Katoto, Nikita Parris, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Pel or Neymar Jr. “Both Neymar and his parents have always supported women’s football. I knew him in his time at Santos and he has always been concerned about the conditions of the players. All the characters who intervene in the film lend their support and talk about how they have fought for equality inside and outside of sport “, sentence Kely.
The director confesses that she never had pressure to be a footballer or to be linked to the world of football because she is the daughter of who she is, but it is something that has helped her in the search for her own path. She has worked as a photographer, creative director and producer of art and multimedia projects such as the documentary she made about her father (The Real Pel). She currently lives in New York with her husband and four children … “although Las is like another daughter to me,” she reflects.
Arajo moved to the United States in 2014. In four years, he learned English and graduated in Criminology from the University of Florida. while playing for the Florida Gators. He has then played in Norway (Arna-Bjrnar), Australia (Adelaide United) and Cyprus (Apollon Limassol) before landing in Spain last month to play for Madrid CFF.. “I am happy because it is a very important step in my career. After being eliminated in the Champions League I needed a new project in a more attractive League and the Primera Iberdrola has always been a goal for me. The team is doing things very well, It has more Brazilians that make my adaptation easier and I hope to do my bit to achieve great things, “explains the midfielder. In addition, she was captain of the Brazilian team that won the 2016 U-20 World Cup. (“the first time my parents saw me on television,” she says proudly) and has already been called by Pia Sundhage for the senior team. “I am very lucky. The documentary has helped me to fulfill the dream of meeting and playing with two references like Marta or Morgan, but above all it has given me the opportunity to tell the world that if I have managed to make a living from football, everyone you can do it, “he highlights.
After three years of filming and more than seven hours of recording, the film is finalizing the last details in the editing process. It is estimated that next September it can be exhibited at festivals or platforms online, but Primera Plana has already had access to a small preview and we can guarantee that it is very worth it.
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