The Black Meteor
The Black Meteor is a 2000 Dutch film directed by Guido Pieters. The film is based on the novel by Tom Egbers, a Dutch sports journalist, which was adapted for the screen by Kees van Beijnum. The novel fictionalizes the story of Steve Mokone, the first black player to play in a professional European league.
| De Zwarte Meteoor | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Guido Pieters |
| Produced by | Matthijs van Heijningen |
| Written by | Tom Egbers (novel), Kees van Beijnum (screenplay) |
| Cinematography | Wouter Suijderhout |
| Edited by | Tatjana Schops |
| Distributed by | RCV |
Release date | 11 December 2000 |
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Language | Dutch English Afrikaans |
| Budget | €2 million |
Plot
The movie is set in the 1950s, when soccer club SC Heracles from Almelo, in the rural east of the Netherlands, acquires an African player. Steve Mokone makes Heracles a successful team, while changing every aspect of life in the small city. Mokone builds a unique friendship with the 15-year-old Felix, but then leaves town as quickly as he came.
Reception
Scott Foundas, writing for Variety, was not overly positive, criticizing its "holier-than-thou coming of age/race relations" quality.[1]
Cast
- Jet Novuka - Steve Mokone
- Erik van der Horst - Felix Verbeek
- Gijs Scholten van Aschat - Schouten, Heracles chairman
- Peter Tuinman - Felix's father
- Lieneke le Roux - Felix's mother
- Thekla Reuten - Vera
- Roef Ragas - Jaap Stegehuis
- Caro Lenssen - Mies
- Angelique de Bruijne - neighbor
- Aus Greidanus - Heracles coach
- Wouter van Oord - Tim
- Guus de Wit - Jan
- Benten Wijnen - Jan (as Benten Bastiaan Wijnen)
- Jop Kappelhoff - Koen
- Frederik Brom - Rooie Gaait (as Freek Brom)
References
- Foundas, Scott (2001-07-23). "Rev. of The Black Meteor". Variety.