Barcelona is regarded as one of the most prestigious soccer clubs in the world, and Ronaldinho (typically known only by his first name) is regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time. Oftentimes the greats find their way to the bigger clubs–Beckham to Real Madrid, Christiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, and Ronaldinho to Barcelona. However, it can take time for these stars to mesh with their new teammates in a new system, and while there were challenging times, Ronaldinho almost always found a reason to be happy. Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World depicts one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen traversing the soccer scene and becoming the savior of the world-renowned Barcelona.
In my opinion, soccer is one of the most entertaining sports to watch. There are some sports that I can watch regardless of who is playing, and the allure and excitement never dwindles; soccer is one of those sports. Players like Ronaldinho make this possible, because the level of talent present on even some of the struggling soccer clubs is incredible. Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World is meant for fans of the sport, individuals who are able to watch any soccer game and appreciate the nuances of the game. For those viewers this documentary is beautiful, constantly tugging at the heartstrings, reminding those viewers what it is that they love about the game.
Not only does Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World touch on the better known ideas of soccer and it, it dives deep into the history of the soccer scene and the things that have caused the development of rivalries. The political implications of the Real Madrid and Barcelona rivalry is incredible, and it’s something of which I was unaware. I’ve always known that soccer fans are some of the most passionate in the world, but knowing now how deep rooted their rivalry runs adds so much to what I’ve already known, and it strengthens the love that I have for the game.
Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World is structured uniquely for a documentary, moving back and forth between different instances in the past rather than following one linear path. There are times that bouncing back and forth may become an issue for some, but I would venture to guess that the majority appreciate the way in which Directors Andrew Douglas and Stuart Douglas (The Douglas Brothers) structure their film. Huge timestamps present on screen and effective transitions throughout portions of Ronaldinho’s timeline make Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World easy to follow. Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World ultimately flows well as a result of the decisions that the Douglas Brothers make, and it’s clear that their attention to detail, and their ability to create a documentary visually appealing (beyond the spectacle of the sport) is impeccable. Like Ronaldinho is with a soccer ball, the Douglas Brothers are incredibly artistic and unique in their filmmaking abilities.
Ronaldinho’s passion for the game is infectious, and that passion, happiness, etc. resonates with viewers, even through the more heartbreaking instances in the film. Seeing how happy the international superstar typically is allows those moments of heartbreak and setback to mean more to viewers, and the way in which Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World is framed allows every step of the way to feel full emotionally. With all of that being said, however, the Douglas Brothers refuse to pull any punches, and it’s clear that their goal in Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World is not to paint the titular individual in a positive light, but rather just to tell the truth about him, no matter what that truth is. Struggling to come to terms with his emotions, failures on the pitch, the passing of the torch–everything comes to light in this documentary, and that’s part of what makes the film so powerful.
Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World is a compelling, honest telling of Ronaldinho’s time in Barcelona–and the Douglas Brothers refuse to hold anything back. Everything comes to light, both the good and the bad–and the full scope of Ronaldinho’s relationship with the Spanish soccer club is understood (maybe for the first time). Friends, family, teammates, etc. sit before the camera, and they tell the world everything that they know about the beloved soccer star. Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World is gripping from the opening moments, and it remains that way throughout its entirety.
Written & Directed by The Douglas Brothers.
Starring Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell, Roberto de Assis Moreira, Santi Nolla, Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi, Thiago Motta, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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