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The new feature film from Searchlight Pictures, Whoever does it wins, premieres next Thursday (14) in cinemas, featuring a script based on an unusual true story. With direction from Taika Waititi and names like Michael Fassbender, Kaimana, Elisabeth Moss It is Oscar Kightleythe film tells the story of an English football coach venturing into command of the American Samoa team, which years before took the biggest defeat in the history of World Cup qualifying: 31-0 to Australia.
The real story
On April 11, 2001, during the Oceania qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, American Samoa and Australia took the field at the Coffs Harbor International Stadium, in New South Wales. Despite the Australian team having been successful in previous matches against their neighbors, no one expected that – in the game against the team from the territory located in Polynesia – the world record for the biggest victory in an international football match would be broken.
An audience of approximately 3,000 people witnessed the historic moment in which Australia scored an incredible 31 goals against the weak American Samoa team. Another record in the match was broken by Australian striker Archie Thompson, who became the player to score the most goals in an international match in history. In total, there were 13 hits and, incredible as it may seem, second place in this ranking goes to another Australian David Zdrilic, who found the net eight times in the same match.
Becoming the target of international ridicule, the team from the small Pacific island was in last place in the FIFA® rankings until November 2011 – when the unshakable players from American Samoa, led by Dutch-American coach Thomas Rogen (played by the actor Michael Fassbender in Whoever does it wins), achieved their first victory by defeating their Tongan rivals by a score of 2-1.
The curious case caught the attention of the Oscar®-winning director Taika Waititi, that when he learned about the story of failure and overcoming of the underdogs of American Samoa, he knew immediately that he had to tell this journey through his lens. “You’re always looking for inspiration, but in this case, it was always there,” commented the filmmaker.
In addition to the rout, another historic fact!
The trajectory of American Samoa told in Whoever does it wins brings another story of overcoming: that of athlete Jaiyah Saelu. She is Fa’afafine, which – in American Samoan culture – is people who are gender fluid, showing two spirits coexisting in one person.
Jaiyah Saelua was the world’s first transgender soccer player in a FIFA® World Cup Qualifying match. This fact led to her being invited in 2016 by the International Football Federation to join the jury for the ‘Diversity Award’, which aims to recognize a person, organization or initiative in favor of diversity and against discrimination in football.
The non-binary actress Kaimana is the one who plays Jaiyah in Whoever does it wins. She says that she had the opportunity to meet the athlete and that this helped a lot in building the character. “There was no need to separate the real Jaiyah from the character in the film because we are very similar,” explains the actress.
Bringing the story to life
In addition to Michael Fassbender It is Kaimana, the cast of Whoever does it wins has other names such as Elisabeth Moss, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Lehi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo, Uli Latukefu It is Rachel House.
The new Searchlight Pictures production is directed by Taika Waititiwho is also a producer alongside Jonathan Cavendish It is Garrett Baschwith Andy Serkis, Will Tennant It is Kathryn Dean as executive producers. Mike Brett It is Steve Jamisonwho directed the 2014 documentary of the same name on which the film is based, also produce the film.
Whoever does it wins premieres on December 14th in national cinemas. Watch the trailer:
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
