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Good Rivals

Name: Good Rivals
Director: Gabriel Serra Argüello
Released: 2022
Duration: 167 min

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

2022

TV-14

Director

Gabriel Serra Argüello

Runtime

167 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Good Rivals elevates the sports documentary genre by focusing on the cultural and political tensions surrounding the rivalry between Landon Donovan and Rafael Márquez. The film delves into the broader socio-political identities of the United States and Mexico. By presenting the rivalry as a nuanced study of international relations, the documentary offers a counter-narrative to US-centric sporting histories. However, the film remains constrained by its emphasis on traditional masculine archetypes and nationalistic symbolism, which limits its exploration of gender and LGBTQ+ issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does Good Rivals have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The documentary does not include any visible LGBTQ+ characters or themes related to non-traditional gender identities.

How does Good Rivals portray gender?

Fair

The film focuses on male figures and national soccer teams, relying on traditional masculine roles of leadership and competition. It does not significantly challenge traditional gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Good Rivals?

Good

The documentary highlights Mexican perspectives and disrupts Western-centric views by examining the political and social dimensions of the rivalry between the United States and Mexico.

How does Good Rivals represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative explores the rivalry as a complex interplay of social and political factors, going beyond simple nationalist clichés to look at how national identities are formed.

Does Good Rivals include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of the portrayal of individuals with visible or invisible disabilities in this documentary.

Present on Screen

Highlights Mexican cultural narratives on par with the United States.
Challenges Western-centric sporting perspectives through detailed socio-political analysis.
Examines complex national identities beyond simple athletic competition.

Limited or Absent

Does not challenge traditional gender hierarchies or offer diverse gender representations.
Lacks engagement with LGBTQ+ themes or identities.
Does not include any representation of individuals with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The definitive documentary on the US and Mexico men’s national soccer teams told through the lens of one of the fiercest rivalries in international sports. The series peels back the political, social and sporting layers of the rivalry through the eyes of Landon Donovan (US) and Rafael Márquez (MX), who became symbols of their countries’ soccer cultures.

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