Watch Once a Lifetime

Once in a Lifetime is a 2019 film directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar. The movie is based on the book of the same name by French journalist Marie-Pauline Mollaret. The film explores the story of an under-privileged high school in Saint Denis, a rough neighborhood in the northern suburbs of Paris, and their journey to making a seemingly far-fetched dream come true: participating and winning in the national high school soccer championships. The movie is a heart-warming tale of grit, determination, and fighting against all odds.

The film kicks off by introducing the audience to Mr. Djibrill, a teacher in a public high school in Saint-Denis. He heads the Physical Education Department and is passionate about soccer. However, the school’s team is more of a laughing stock, with neither the players nor the coaching staff taking the game seriously. Mr. Djibrill is convinced that the raw talent in his school is worth exploring and believes that the team has what it takes to compete in the national championships. He sets out to enroll the team in the regional championships, where they have to beat a few more established teams to qualify for the nationals.

The movie follows the journey of the team as they prepare, train, and eventually qualify for the nationals. The team is made up of a diverse bunch of students, including a young Muslim girl who faces ridicule from her team-mates, a boy from Senegal who has just moved to France, and a young lad from a nearby slum who is always broke. There is also a troubled student with a history of theft and violence, who is Mr. Djibrill's sole responsibility.

Through the movie, the team members discover that they have more in common than just soccer. They all come from an under-privileged background, and soccer is their escape from their struggles. The school, too, is under-funded, and Mr. Djibril has to work with a tiny budget. In one of the scenes, he is seen buying soccer shoes for the players from sources he can hardly afford. The team soon realizes that they are not just playing for themselves but are representing their school and their community. This realization acts as a source of motivation for them.

Once in a Lifetime's plot is gripping, with tense matches and nail-biting finishes. One of the standout sequences in the movie is a match between the team and a rival school in the finals. In this match, the team plays their hearts out, and the climax is a treat to watch. While the plot is predictable, the execution is excellent. The movie is a great visual representation of the book's premise, and the actors' performances are believable and compelling.

The film's cinematography is another plus point. The camera's focus lingers on each character's personal life to show the challenges that they overcome to make the soccer dream a reality. The movie's message is clear — if you work hard and believe in your ability, anything is possible, no matter how impossible it may seem.

To sum up, Once in a Lifetime is a great high school sports movie. It celebrates the power of teamwork and perseverance and is a must-watch for those who love an inspirational story. The underdog sports movie genre may be a well-trodden road, but Once in a Lifetime is a feel-good entertainment that is bound to leave audiences feeling good.