Shot on a couple of handheld cameras, this documentary follows three young men – El Loco, Lechero and Carlitos – from north-eastern Colombia as they traverse a thousand miles of rough road, mostly by stealthily leaping on to moving lorries, and scrounging food from strangers along the way. It’s a dangerous journey, but the guys don’t have much to lose given the hardscrabble poverty of their daily lives. The purpose, apart from the fact that it’s just something to do, is to see their football team AtléticoBucaramanga, AKA the Leopards, play for a chance of promotion to division A after eight long years in division B.
Self-styled “hooligans,” it’s clear they see this pilgrimage as an act of honour to the club they love as well as something they do in the name of fallen friends. Before setting off for the key game they visit the tomb of one deceased comrade and blow spliff smoke in his direction as an offering. Once on the road, they meet other supporters – a fight nearly breaks out on the sliproad until they realise they are fellow Leopards fans – and survive on the kindness of strangers. Director Andres Torres doesn’t show that much football-stadium violence, but it’s alluded to throughout and the closing credits pay tribute to some of the dead.
While it’s hard not to admire the film-makers’ own dedication to tracking their subjects, even if it means the camera shakes like a tabby in a cat carrier as they jump aboard trucks and the like, the hardcore vérité style here is a bit cold. We don’t really get to know these guys at all well, and the film-makers certainly don’t question or examine their self-destructive lifestyle. Ultimately, it’s a bit of a slog, and not that interesting unless you’re really into Colombian highways or the machismo of football fans.
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