Pelé

The documentary covers Pelé from 1958 to 1970, which is to say three World Cups and the years between them. Politics sits at the centre as much as football: the 1970 tournament was won under a military dictatorship and the regime converted the victory straight into its own propaganda. What Pelé did and did not do about that is the hardest part of the film; he speaks to camera about it and is visibly uncomfortable. David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas use archive footage and interviews with former teammates. The injuries at the 1966 tournament and his near decision to stop playing are also covered. It went out on Netflix. Who it is for: viewers who like football history and stories where sport and politics intersect. Who it is not for: anyone expecting a critical portrait, since the film stands close to its subject.