The story of the infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team, known for a brutal 2001 FIFA match they lost 31-0 (IMDB).
This film, at its core, contains a heartwarming story. Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) is a disgraced soccer player trying to find a way to stay in the soccer world. His only offer is an opportunity to coach the worst soccer team in the world from American Samoa. Rongen decides to take the job because he thinks he is the one who can help this team succeed. Unfortunately, he begins by yelling and being critical, which doesn’t help their situation.
Fassbender delivers an excellent performance in this role because Rongen is a nuanced character that allows him to demonstrate his acting abilities. He initially keeps everyone at arms-length because he is in pain and has an enormous amount of internal anger, but no one knows why. Revealing his anger endears him to the players and the audience.
This film is well-made, and the characters are funny and endearing because the Samoa way of life gives them a somewhat different perspective. While I enjoyed watching this film, I cannot recommend paying for a full-price ticket. I recommend going to a matinee or, better yet, stream it.