Erik Enge, Frida Gustavsson, Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Mauritzio Lombardi
Sweden’s recent Oscars entry for Best Foreign Film offers a rollercoaster ride through the contemporary football industry as seen by one of its young stars.
A true story, based on the life of former professional footballer Martin Bengtsson and adapted from his autobiography by writer-director Ronnie Sandahl (Underdog, writer of Borg/McEnroe), it’s a coming-of-age drama about a young man’s drive to succeed in a world where everyone has a price tag.
Martin (Erik Enge) is one of the most promising football talents Sweden has ever seen. Aged 16, his dream of fame and fortune comes true when he is bought by Inter Milan, one of Italy’s most prestigious clubs. But away from his friends and family and facing the incredible pressures and cutthroat nature of major league play, Martin develops an intense loneliness, and begins to question whether this is actually the life he yearned for.
Infused with authenticity via Bengtsson’s experience and insights, Tigers is a potent, assured and tremendously compelling exploration of the all-encompassing world of professional sports and the effects of extreme conditions on teenage mental health.
