A link to the free showing of the movie #SheBelongs showed up in my google alerts. I wasn’t sure it would be worth watching because the film had no IMDB or TMDB or Letterboxd entries. It had no reviews. I found press releases about the film and its organizers, Refugee Soccer, and it appeared to be a fund-raising mechanism. Was it worth my time?
Then I discovered that a few months ago, the organizers made the film available on youtube, so I didn’t need to register for a screening. I made the leap, and you might want to spend 77 minutes of your time doing the same thing.
Not because it’s a wonderfully executed film, but because it’s an example of creating a simple message on DEI and inclusion that inspires others. Females deserve to belong on a soccer pitch. Refugees deserve to be welcomed and integrated in a strange society. And soccer can be a platform for people to connect and establish, through play, that we can all be friends across our differences.
In the story
The documentary, directed by wedding photographer Joseph Sim, follows founder Adam Miles as he takes 22 high school girls from the Salt Lake City area to New Zealand for the 2023 Womens World Cup.
Half the girls are refugees and half are not. Most of the refugees have not even played soccer, due to cultural norms. The team has 10 weeks to train and then they travel for 2-3 weeks, playing games in the San Francisco area (Walnut Creek), Tokyo, and New Zealand.
In Walnut Creek, their rival coaches are Sisleide do Amor Lima (“Sissi”) and Marcia Tafarel (“Tafa”), of Brazilian WNT fame. They coach for the Walnut Creek Surf Soccer Club.
In Japan, the girls are trounced by two excellent girls teams and a few players get to meet with a Japanese government official. Though they are crushed to lose badly, gradually the girls figure out that their trip is not about winning. It’s about promoting their message and educating the public and government decision-makers on refugees and inclusion.
In New Zealand, the girls play against a local refugee team and go to a USWNT game. It turns out the girls are staying at the same hotel that USSoccer is using for Friends and Family of the players. One of the refugee players gets to meet by chance her idol, Sophia Smith, in front of the elevator.
In the end, the girls return home inspired by what they’ve learned and looking to apply it. Adam Miles talks about Refugee Soccer’s next goal, which is to take 4 teams to Spain in 2025.
The film and politics
The film editing style is a lot of quick takes that when seamed together communicate the message of inclusion. I thought Adam’s repeated messaging would wear thin on me, but by the movie’s end, the young women’s positivity had warmed over me like a protective layer against the world’s ills. Hopefully peace-promoting films like this will not go away.
Under the first 4 months of Trump 2.0, it has been very alarming to see DEI and inclusion as reasons for government persecution, prosecution, and de-funding. Will a film like this soon be outlawed in the USA? Removed from the internet? Watch #SheBelongs now while you still can.
The soccer
Given most of the players are soccer novices, there is not much football to watch. What really caught my eye was the huge indoor facility the girls practiced in. It turns out it is the site of the Zions Bank Real Academy, where RSL, the Real Monarchs, and RSL’s youth players train. Built in 2018, such great training facilities make me realize why RSL has been getting better every year while my San Jose Earthquakes sink in quicksand. 😁
Special Note: Naomi Ghirma has a few speaking opportunities in this film.
About Adam Miles
I spent hours researching founder Adam Miles, because I couldn’t believe that someone would walk away from advising high network individuals to instead support refugee children. He is constantly working to fund his charity, which pays him a salary of just $39k. That’s poverty wages in the USA. I finally concluded Adam Miles is the kind of guy for whom saving or helping just one refugee family is worth all his effort. Once he delivered 100 soccer balls to Ghana, he was hooked.
Adam Miles really knows how to leverage his network, but he could definitely use more help. So if you support DEI and what looks like a good cause, contribute to #SheBelongs.
7 Soccer Movie Mom Rating = 7
Resources:
- Released: 2024-01-04 (Salt Lake City)
- 1 hr 17 mins
- I watched the movie here
- Not on IMDB
- Director/Editor: Joseph Sim
- Stars: Adam Miles
- Watch the Trailer
- SheBelongs Website
