The Two Escobars

"Sometimes it really is a matter of life and death"

2010 1h 40m EN

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 51

CrimeDocumentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Pablo Escobar was the richest, most powerful drug kingpin in the world, ruling the Medellin Cartel with an iron fist. Andres Escobar was the biggest soccer star in Colombia. The two were not related, but their fates were inextricably-and fatally-intertwined. Pablo's drug money had turned Andres' national team into South American champions, favored to win the 1994 World Cup in Los Angeles. It was there, in a game against the U.S., that Andres committed one of the most shocking mistakes in soccer history, scoring an "own goal" that eliminated his team from the competition and ultimately cost him his life. The Two Escobars is a riveting examination of the intersection of sports, crime, and politics.

“Sometimes it really is a matter of life and death”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Andrés Escobar
Self (archive footage)
Pablo Escobar
Self (archive footage)
María Ester Escobar
Self
Francisco Maturana
Self
Alexis García V.
Self
Jaime Gaviria Gómez
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Zimbalist
Writers: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: Colombia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 16 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Zimbalist, shot by Jeff Zimbalist. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ion Furjanic. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jeff Zimbalist shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Andrés Escobar and Pablo Escobar and María Ester Escobar carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sometimes it really is a matter of life and death".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Zimbalist directs. Jeff Zimbalist behind the camera. Ion Furjanic scores. Jeff Zimbalist cuts. Produced in Colombia. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 16 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Michael Zimbalist, shot by Jeff Zimbalist. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Ion Furjanic. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Jeff Zimbalist shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Andrés Escobar and Pablo Escobar and María Ester Escobar carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Sometimes it really is a matter of life and death".
9IMDB entry: tt2700330 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jeff Zimbalist
Original score: Ion Furjanic
Editing: Jeff Zimbalist
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Two Escobars (2010)

Also by

Michael Zimbalist

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Community reviews

What people are saying

manny1232012-09-11
★ 10/10
I don't normally write reviews but this documentary is worth one! It's very well made and is entirely narrated by the people being interviewed which gives it a very authentic feel. Even if you're not into sports, the political aspects of this documentary make for a very interesting perspective. It's more about what Columbia as a nation was going through rather than about drugs or sports. For anyone who wants to learn more about this period of history, I highly recommend The Two Escobars.

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