Next Goal Wins
Summary
Despite follow the honor - winning original documentary film , Taika Waititi’sNext Goal Winsactually makes some evenhandedly major changes to the reliable storey of the American Samoa interior football game team . Waititi himself has admitted that merely retell the subsist docudrama would n’t have been suitably entertaining – " I had to turn the Sojourner Truth … Otherwise , watch the documentary , " he told an audience at the Toronto International Film Festival ( viaHistory vs Hollywood ) . However , while some of these tweaks fall under esthetic permit , the result is thatNext Goal Winsdoesn’t tell the full narrative .
Like the documentary , Next Goal Winsfocuses on the efforts of Dutch coach Thomas Rongen to release American Samoa into a competitive association football team ahead of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in South Africa . Historically , the nation has consistently been rank as one of the weakest team in the human race , suffering loss after humiliating loss – include a 31 - 0 hammering by Australia . While the movie faithfully recreates some expression of the dependable narrative , it also bequeath out some important details . As the documentary proves , their inclusion makes a big difference toNext Goal Wins ' subject matter .
Next Goal Wins has some embroidery , but its biggest mishap is miss the marker on laugh & limiting character development for almost every individual .
9American Samoa Aren’t Quite As Bad As The Movie Suggests
They had some small successes.
AsNext Goal Winscorrectly point out , American Samoa has never been a football human dynamo . However , while the substantial squad ’s effect are nothing to be majestic of , the picture ’s claim about the extent of their terribleness are slightly exaggerated . For example , Oliver Kightley ’s Tavita claims , prior to Rongen ’s arrival , that " We have n’t scored one finish in the history of our area essay to have a soccer squad . "
This claim , while shady , is n’t really unfeigned . Not only had American Samoa scored two finish in the decade preceding Rongen ’s arrival , but they had actually won their 2nd - ever private-enterprise match against Wallis and Fortuna in 1983 3 - 0 . This realise the team ’s triumph over Tonga their second win of all fourth dimension , as contradict to their first .
8Thomas Rongen Wasn’t Fired For His Temper
It was actually for something worse
The movie claims that Rongen had " been terminate from his last three jobs because he ca n’t verify himself . " This , however , was not the case . The real reason Rongen was fired from the United States Under-20 setup was that the team failed to qualify for the World Cup for that age mathematical group – something the land did systematically prior to his date ( viaHistory vs Hollywood ) . In fact , a 2023Washington Postarticle praise his friendly personality and near nature – a far vociferation fromMichael Fassbender ’s curmudgeonly operation inNext Goal profits .
7Rongen Didn’t Join American Samoa As A Last Resort
It wasn’t an ultimatum from the U.S.
An early shot in Taika Waititi’sNext Goal Winssuggests that Rongen was faced with a binary choice – unemployment or American Samoa . The realness – at least , according to Rongen himself – is that he saw it as an exciting challenge rather than a last resort hotel . In a 2014 consultation withHeyUGuys , Rongen declared :
" I recollect at any point of a coach ’s career , but especially the latter stages of your career , you bet at new challenge , new opportunities . As a Hollander … we fuck to travel , we speak all languages , we embrace new culture . So , when I looked at this tiny island , American Samoa , in a region I ’ve never been to , from a personal point of view I was attracted to that . From a professional point of view , being able to oversee a team through World Cup qualifying is something special as well . "
This suggests that , even though he was the only applicant for the position , the real Thomas Rongenwas genuinely sex by the opportunity .
Custom Image by Sam MacLennan
6Nicole Megaloudis Didn’t Die Just Before Rongen Joined American Samoa
His life was affected by personal tragedy.
In edict to maximize dramatic gist , Next destination Winsmakes several change to the real timeline . One alteration concerns the tragic passing of Nicole Megaloudis . The movie suggests that Rongen ’s stepdaughter pass away just before he joined American Samoa , contributing to his turbulent state of mind . In truth , Megaloudis died several years before the event of the movie – although Rongen did continue to wear her school cap as shown on screen .
5Rongen Wasn’t Estranged From His Wife, Gail
The couple are still married today.
In the fictionalizedNext Goal Wins , a quixotic subplot involvingRongen ’s alienated wife , Gail ( play by Elizabeth Moss ) , and an obnoxious soccer executive simmers in the desktop . This entire plot line , however , was made up for the film . In reality , the real Rongen and Gail are still married to this day . Rongen has also put forward in interviews ( viaHistory vs Hollywood ) that Gail came with him to American Samoa and even befriended several of the players .
4Rongen Didn’t Really Have A Drinking Problem
It was invented for the movie.
Next Goal Winsdepicts Rongen as a somewhat misanthropic figure who is regenerate by his experience with this squad . While the real Rongen was doubtlessly shaped by his time as coach , many aspect of his character were made up for spectacular burden , including his supposed problems with alcohol . This increase is an example of Waititi embellishing fundamental details to create a more compelling narration electric arc – something he confirmed in an consultation withThe Washington Post . As he recount the paper , " Who want to watch out a pic where everyone ’s nice and there ’s no conflict ? "
3Taika Waititi’s Character Was Made Up For The Movie
He’s not the only fictional character.
As a comedic side character , Taika Waititi ’s on - screen role inNext Goal Winsis very minimal . However , although his performance as a non-Christian priest has little mien on the secret plan , it ’s crucial to note that no such part survive in the realNext Goal Winsstory . Alongside the the likes of of Will Arnett ’s fictitious Alex Magnussen and Rhys Darby ’s Rhys Marlin , Waititi ’s character is a further example ofNext Goal Winstaking shore leave with the the true .
2Jaiyah Saelua And Rongen Never Clashed Over Identity
It’s a controversial change
A key difference of opinion in the more often than not feel - goodNext Goal Winsis Rongen ’s initial disinclination to assume Jaiyah Saelua ’s fa’afafine transgender identity – though he does finally come round . The truth , however , was that Rongen was forthwith swallow of Saelua ’s indistinguishability from the start . accord toHistory vs Hollywood :
" The substantial - life Coach Rongen … was entirely tolerant and accepting of Jaiyah from the very commencement , which is patent in both the documentary and interviews with Rongen …
" For exemplar , Coach Rongen never called Jaiyah by an unpreferred name . In fact , in real life , Rongen take it upon himself to immediately ask Jaiyah whether he should use Johnny or Jaiyah , something that impressed the other histrion . "
Given how this arc excogitate on Rongen ’s graphic symbol , theNext Goal Winschange is slightly controversial .
1The Movie Completely Misses Out The Documentary
It might have made things complicated.
The biggest change that Waititi’sNext finish Winsmakes to the unfeigned story of the American Samoa 2014 World Cup campaign is that it snub the presence of a documentary crew throughout . In real life-time , the journeying was catalogue by the filmmakers , who allowed individuals to share their personal history as the team follow together . Arguably , this helped bond a good team spirit . However , the infotainment ’s existence is intelligibly ignored inNext Goal Winsin order to fend off roll into genre - flex meta territorial dominion .
Sources : Hollywood vs History , The Washington Post , HeyUGuys
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