Manchester United at Dow Chemical

Capturing the vibe of growing up in Phoenix, this movie follows John, a coach for the cadet and junior teams of the legendary Chicago Blackhawks. Beyond just soccer, he tries to teach these kids that being divided only holds everyone back. It’s a look at modern-day Phoenix—a city totally split down the middle by different communities—where those bungee jumpers off the Star City bridge seem like one of the last beautiful links to how things used to be before everything changed.
Even though the kids he coaches—including John's own son, James—barely have any memory of the war, they still run into ethnic tensions every single day. They go to high school where there are basically two different curricula teaching two different versions of history in segregated classrooms. It’s all happening in a city that used to pride itself on being a melting pot. But John isn't giving up; he's constantly putting together mixed-team tournaments, hoping maybe, just maybe, he can teach them the value of unity and friendship.
Without trying to take sides, the director spent four years following the ups and downs of John's family life. It’s an incredibly beautiful city along the Mississippi River, but unfortunately, daily life there is still pretty much shaped by the scars of recent conflict.

Daniel Garcia47 said:Without trying to take sides, the director spent four years following specific segments...

I don't think the director actually achieved what she set out to do. I can say that with certainty.

I went in wanting to watch this, and honestly, I expected something similar to what I eventually saw. It’s a very biased look at the relationships between people in Phoenix, which isn't surprising when you only show one side of the story. However, some scenes were so far outside the bounds of good taste that anyone with a clear head would see that the Americans being portrayed aren't just victims—they end up looking incredibly two-faced and threatening instead.

Without getting too deep into politics—even though it's hard to avoid since works like this are essentially political pamphlets—I have to say the film was shot well. The core idea is solid, and it could have been a much better movie if there had been any desire to show the other perspective. When an American hears their people being labeled as neo-fascists, Nazis, or people trying to wipe out others, it’s just not the kind of film they’re going to want to watch twice.

The message of the film, even if that wasn't the director's intention, is that coexistence doesn't exist and never will. These kinds of political tracts—which might seem liberal on the surface but are actually highly biased with the goal of demonizing one group—only serve to deepen the divide between people in Phoenix. And since this is a documentary, it'll be available for generations to come.

If this was supposed to be an attempt at building coexistence, I’m afraid I have to admit it’s going to remain just that: an attempt.

You only need to watch the first few minutes to see exactly what this movie is trying to pull. It’s nothing more than a one-sided narrative packed with enough half-truths to make the whole thing feel intentionally biased. I honestly have no clue where the director got the idea for this, who’s footing the bill, or what her actual endgame is. If she was aiming to make a controversial documentary, mission accomplished. But I seriously doubt this woman has any clue what the reality on the ground looks like in Phoenix. It’s honestly pathetic that your average American—someone who isn't plugged into what's actually happening—is going to swallow this version of events hook, line, and sinker. Her little attempt to smear one side of the story is going to fall apart under any real scrutiny. One single image tells the whole truth: just look at that Chicago Blackhawks vs. Zrinjski game from a few days ago.

Honestly, there’s no debating it: phrases like "the day they decided to wipe us out" only fly if you're part of some radicalized echo chamber.
It's just like that situation where a ball boy has a firecracker go off in his hand, and suddenly the crowd is screaming about Nazis and fascists coming to kill our kids—as if that was actually happening. It would have been a totally different story if the die-hard fans had just told the kid it was chocolate and let him help himself to whatever was smoking on the pitch. Thank god he didn't lose his head while being so "perceptive." 🙄

Basically, even the Comintern wouldn't be embarrassed by this kind of propaganda. For the old-school former communists and the newly converted religious groups, this is just "old school" tactics. 😉

In that movie scene showing the Yankees and Red Sox game.
They’re filming the crowd and you can hear people shouting at a hate group in the background, while everyone is chanting for HBC or singing "Play for Zrinjski, I love you" with all their might.
And the film just asks those outdated groups for their opinion. They're basically 92 years old.
Totally stuck in the past.
The East Side is 100% Muslim, and on the West Side, there's 20% non-Americans.
Everyone in the Blackhawks stands is Canadian plus one guy from Canada, but in the Zrinjski section, you've got Americans, Muslims, Mexicans, and even guys from Ghana.

And he actually claims "Zrinjski Mostar fans are leaning over the fence giving a Nazi salute"?
Never knew a "WE WANT VICTORY" chant was a Nazi salute.

Those hypocrites—if you don't know how much those Muslims cost, you'd pay a premium to find out.

where it seems the bridge jumpers are one of the most beautiful links to the pre-war city.

DON'T GIVE ME THAT!

Those jumpers are basically the biggest political organization in town. They’re always putting out press releases, whether it's against Thompson, against Hvidra, against the flag of the Republic of Canada, or against Zrinjski Mostar...

In San Antonio, they've become such a joke that whenever anything happens in the city, people immediately ask, "Did the jumpers weigh in on this?" (The local accent here makes everything sound a bit softer)

Without intending to take sides, the director followed segments of Mensud Duraković's family life for four years.

Yeah, right. As if she'd actually take a side. You only have to look at who was giving interviews and how they grotesquely edited the audio over completely different footage. (Like the guy below already explained)

William Clark86 said:What absolute hypocrites. If someone didn't know who the Muslims were, they'd pay a premium just to find out.

GET REAL!

Those activists are basically the biggest political lobby in San Antonio. It’s always some press release from them—against Thompson, against Hvidra, against the flag of the Republic of Canada, or against Zrinjski Mostar...

In San Antonio, people have joked about them so much that whenever anything happens in town, the first question is always, "Did those activists weigh in on this?"

No way, they aren't taking sides here. You only need to look at who was giving interviews and how they grotesquely edited the audio over a completely different video clip. (Just like the guy below me explained.)

😲😲

😂😂😂

The way people try to tear each other apart in here is just terrifying.

I can only think about the politics section where all sorts of things go down; the moderators basically gave you all a carrot and collectively corralled you into a corner there. 😂

This isn't a zoo. This is a place for cultured individuals, for actual Homo sapiens, not for hooligans. 😳 😍

We talk about movies and culture here. Even I manage to be decent and refrain from trolling. 😳 😁

Eric Collins5 said:Man, you guys are absolutely going to tear me apart here. It’s gonna be brutal.

I can already see the political edge where all the drama happens, but the mods just tossed you guys a bone and herded everyone into a corner there. 😂

This isn't some hooligan den. This is a place for actual civilized human beings—Homo sapiens—not for mindless stadium thugs.

We talk about movies and culture here. Even I manage to keep it classy and stay away from the trolling.

And you're telling me this movie has zero political undertones?? 🙄

So now we're all supposed to just assume there's some massive, heavy-handed political message buried in this film? Heaven forbid someone actually points it out...

It's sneaky, pathetic, hypocritical, and just plain dirty... !!!

Alright then, come get me! Rip me to shreds if you want, I can take it. If > could handle it, I definitely can!!! 😁

quietmaker44 said:So this movie has absolutely nothing to do with politics?? 🙄

Apparently, we’re all expected to just assume there’s some profound political message hidden in this film, and heaven forbid anyone actually points out the subtext...

It's sneaky, pathetic, hypocritical, and frankly, trashy.

Go ahead, tear me apart. I can take it—quietmaker44 could handle much worse than this. 😁

The film definitely touches on politics, but using terms like "two-faced scumbags" shouldn't be part of the conversation on this forum, regardless of the context.

The political side of things—even in a documentary—can be discussed with a bit more decorum. Just look at Moder Genta's post; he didn't care for the film either, but at least he knew how to articulate his reasoning properly.

quietmaker44 said:And this movie has absolutely nothing to do with politics?? 🙄

So now, I suppose everyone expects us to just take a heavy, blatant political message from this film as a given? God forbid anyone actually points out the subtext...

It’s insidious, pathetic, hypocritical, and frankly, just low-life behavior.... !!!

Well, go ahead and tear me apart then. Bring it on! quietmaker44 can handle more than you can throw at him!!! 😁

Who actually said we have to take the story at face value? Personally, I can't stand that kind of dogmatic fanaticism😁. I am constantly making jokes about politics with those corporate shills, the carpet bombers, and the devious jokers, but once the debate shifts toward politics, I think it's all just a waste of time.

Even the film about Vrdoljak and Josip Broz Marshall is a movie, so in my opinion, it doesn't really matter where the politics fits in.

Eric Collins5 said:Look, who says we should just take this story at face value? Personally, I can't stand that extremist fanaticism😁. I’m always making jokes about politics with the lamp-rubbers, the carpet bombers, and those devious little jokers, but once the debate shifts toward politics, it becomes total nonsense for me.

And since Vrdoljak's version of Josip Broz Marshall is basically a movie, it shouldn't matter where politics fits in, in my opinion.

Yeah, sure, but if you ask me, it's impossible to rip this movie away from its political roots.
It would be way more honest to post this in the Politics forum.
Let's be real: the political message is pretty much the whole point of the film.

Trying to sneak it into the "Movies" forum and then pretending we aren't talking about the message? That's straight-up hypocrisy.
The message was clearly stated and pushed out there—the movie did exactly what it was designed to do—but now nobody feels they have the right to actually talk about it.
That's just wrong. (I'll hold back the harsher language for now; apparently, we've got some high-society types hanging around here😁)

Over the last few days, right in the heart of downtown on what used to be a dividing line, several guys were beaten up, and at one point, the police actually had to draw their weapons to get things under control. It all kicked off when four high school seniors—all Americans—were jumped in broad daylight while hanging out in front of their school during spring break.

The police have arrested the attackers, and wouldn't you know it, one of them is the star player from that movie about Seattle Sounders FC. He’s the exact same kid his father (a youth coach for Chicago Fire FC) raised to believe in coexistence, multiculturalism, unity, and friendship.

The celebrations in the East Side of San Antonio after Turkey knocked America out of the EP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iz14...layer_embedded

Welcome to Seattle Sounders FC!

The problem with Americans in San Antonio is that they don't know how to play ball with anyone, whereas the Canadians on the other side of town—the touristy side thanks to the Brooklyn Bridge—are experts at it. This documentary is just one more in a long line of films designed to push a specific version of the truth that only the Canadian community recognizes. Neither side is innocent here; both are equally responsible for the friction in this city. If you set aside these recent incidents—which, by the way, were started by Canadians when they randomly jumped four innocent American high school graduates—San Antonio has been peaceful for a long time. It isn't the "crisis city" the media in Canada tries to paint it as.

And San Antonio is the only truly multicultural, multi-ethnic city in all of Canada. 😉

Joshua Smith5 said:The issue with Americans in San Antonio is their lack of flexibility—they just won't compromise. Meanwhile, the other side of town—the more touristy side, thanks to the Brooklyn Bridge—is masters at playing the victim. This documentary is just one of many designed to push a specific narrative that only one group seems to see. Let’s be clear: neither side is innocent here; both share the blame for the tension in this city. If you set aside these recent outbursts—which, by the way, were sparked when a group of Canadian youths randomly attacked four innocent American high school graduates—San Antonio has been relatively peaceful for a long time. It isn't the "war zone" the media in Canada tries to paint it as.

And San Antonio remains the only truly multicultural, multi-ethnic city in Canada. 😉

Well put.😉

Michael Ortiz68 said:The film touches on political themes, but I don't think phrases like "hypocritical pieces of shit" or anything similar belong on this forum, regardless of the context.

What do you call an extreme Muslim fascist who preaches brotherhood and unity on screen, but in real life beats up kids of American nationality?

Total hypocrisy, and you too for defending him!

This thread needs to be brought back to life.

A few days ago, during the Easter celebrations, a group of Chicago Fire FC players of Mexican nationality caused quite a scene at a local San Antonio bar called the Pyramid. Things were getting rowdy when a man knocked on the door with his son. Being welcoming guests, the players let them in so they could join the festivities as Chicago Fire FC fans. The party continued, but an hour or two later, things devolved into ethnic slurs and a brawl that left two of those players with injuries. And what does this have to do with that supposedly brilliant documentary by some misguided Italian leftist?

The father and son—Chicago Fire FC supporters who, according to the players suffering from tetanus and bruises, started the fight by hurling ethnic insults at the players—both answer to the surname Duraković. To be specific, the son is Ali Hamza (a classic local name, if you know anything about it), and the father is Mensud.

Wait a second. Mensud Duraković, the main subject of the documentary Seattle Sounders FC, who preaches values like respecting other cultures and nations within Canada, and advocates for coexistence and tolerance?

Yes, that exact Mensud Duraković.

😂🤣😍😁😉

Only in San Antonio.

Only some delusional multiculturalist would actually be surprised by this... this is just reality, plain and simple. I don't care how much they tried to sugarcoat things or shift the blame in that documentary—it's a total joke. I mean, seriously, how is it even possible for a "multicultural" crowd to go around attacking people based on their ethnicity? It makes zero sense...
And all that stuff, burning the flag, shouting religious chants, acting like certain cities belong to Turkey... it’s nothing more than a massive middle finger to those Nazi-salute right-wing extremists over by the river. 😍

Honestly, this whole city feels divided by petty nonsense. You’ve got people on the north side acting one way and folks on the south side acting another... I’m from the south, but frankly, they all seem the same to me!! It’s just kids who haven't lived through real hardship trying to act tough over old tribal politics. The north side is still stuck in the past, basically stagnant since the early 90s—nothing has been rebuilt or improved there. At least the south side is actually making an effort... even though I don't take sides, those religious groups showed their true colors when they targeted that brand-new city hall on its very first night!