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Mario (2018 film)

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Mario
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMarcel Gisler
Screenplay by
  • Thomas Hess
  • Marcel Gisler
  • Frédéric Moriette
Story byThomas Hess
Produced byRudolf Santschi
Starring
CinematographySophie Maintigneux
Edited byThomas Bachmann
Music by
  • Martin Skalsky
  • Christian Schlumpf
  • Michael Duss
Production
companies
Distributed byFrenetic Films
Release dates
  • 27 January 2018 (2018-01-27) (Solothurn Film Festival)
  • 22 February 2018 (2018-02-22) (German-speaking Switzerland)
Running time
124 minutes
CountrySwitzerland
LanguageSwiss German

Mario is a 2018 Swiss romantic drama film directed by Marcel Gisler.[1][2]

Synopsis

Mario is an up-and-coming football star on a fifth-tier league near Thun. Captain, he has the most promising career in the league and works daily alongside his agent and manager, who is also his father, to ensure he will make it into a 1st League group in the coming year. During training for the current season, the team adds another striker, Leon, from Hanover. The two get along from the beginning and share a flat near to the field, where they begin a relationship. On an overnight trip for an away game, they are spotted kissing by another player, who tells the rest of the team. While Mario and Leon's manager, coach, and agents have no personal objections to their homosexuality, they do not want to risk the public and fans becoming aware, claiming there is a "certain image" to maintain in the world of football. Mario and Leon reluctantly agree to deny their relationship for the sake of their careers and make token attempts at public appearances with women. At the same time, they continue to receive under-the-radar abuse from some of their other teammates and Mario has a falling out with his father over the issue. When Leon discovers a dildo in his trousers in the locker room, he demands to know who on the team takes issue with his true sexuality. Mario, who has just learned he has been accepted to play first league in the new season, tries to ease the tension while simultaneously claiming he is in a relationship with "his girlfriend", who is in reality his best friend Jenny. Hurt that Mario so easily continues to publicly deny his homosexuality and their relationship, Leon quits the team and moves back to Germany. Heartbroken, Mario puts all of his energy into training, eventually receiving contract offers from both his hometown club and a club in Hamburg. Knowing Mario will want to play in Germany to be nearer Leon, Mario's agent meets with Jenny and convinces her to go with him, citing his need for emotional support. Mario scores the winning goal in the first match of the new season, garnering him press attention. While he and Jenny initially pose as a couple, Jenny succumbs to complexity required of being in a high-profile relationship and the two "break up". Mario visits Leon to apologise for his past behaviour, and in the hopes they can repair what they had, but discovers Leon has quit football seriously and has found a new partner. Leon explains that lying every day was causing him severe emotional distress, with which Mario empathises. Claiming he "is not brave enough" to leave football behind in order to live as his true self, Mario returns to the professional league and becomes a nationally celebrated sports star, depressed and alone.

Cast

References

  1. ^ Clarke, Cath (2018-07-11). "Mario review – when gay footballers fall in love". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  2. ^ van Hoeij, Boyd (2018-05-31). "'Mario': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
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