Film Review: COPA 71

COPA 71
Directed by Rachel Ramsay, James Erskine
90 min – United Kingdom

Many people think the first professional women’s soccer game on a main stage was in 1991, but this documentary proves even the most avid of soccer fans wrong.

“COPA 71” centers around the 1971 Women’s Soccer World Cup that was witnessed by record crowds in Mexico, but is largely written out of sporting history.

Executive produced by tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams and professional soccer star Alex Morgan, this film is a true story told by the women who lived it.

The documentary follows the journey of female soccer players and their teams from all over the world. It chronicles the true events of women’s soccer and their fight to play a sport they loved against all odds.

It’s reminiscent of the struggles of the “Rosie the Riveter” icon and women’s baseball leagues, made famous by the film “A League of Their Own,” at a time when women’s gender roles were defined as domestic only.

These footballing women struggled to play the sport they loved when they were banned by FIFA to play in any arena and the threat of fines and retribution for those who did. These women were good, very good, and very popular with fans. Some entrepreneurs from Mexico realized that this could be a lucrative opportunity for them and capitalized on it, but the women didn’t make any money. With publicity and media management these women were thrust into fame and then ultimate obscurity.

When it was all said and done they played one of the best games in history, that sold out to record crowds and then reverted back to struggling to play yet again.

This is an inspiring story about doing what you love and the truth of the obstacles put in their path on their way to making history, that should be seen by all.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Learn more at sbiff.org