Foosballers

Who knew? In the mid-1970s, foosball was a big money sport, almost on par with professional golf and tennis. They called it tournament soccer, but it was the same foosball we all know: two players at a table spin little men on rods, trying to slam a ball into a goal. Prizes included sports cars and checks with lots of zeros. Players quit their day jobs and hit the pro circuit. It rained money, and - surprise! - it didn’t last. Video games blew up and relegated foosball tables to paneled family rooms and bars. Game over? Not quite. A tiny circuit of foosball tournaments continues to nurse obsessives perfecting their pull shots. Like a Hoop Dreams from the Upside Down, the charming and often funny Foosballers tracks a handful of average-Joe fanatics in the months leading up to the Tornado World Championships - the Super Bowl of foosball - then dives into an intense, nerve-racking competition. We learn the sport’s history, trick shots, and meet legends of the game - some who still play, some who have descended into madness. Beware - this foosball thing is not for the weak-hearted. (Florida Film Festival)