ABOUT: dir. Javier Vázquez, 2005, Argentina / New Zealand, 75 min.Javier Vázquez's documentary Amando a Maradona is a tribute to "The King" of soccer. Diego Armando Maradona is arguably the best soccer player of all time, scoring 34 goals and playing in four FIFA tournaments during his quarter-century long international career. He was also very controversial. He idealized Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, whose faces he had tattooed on his arms. Like many South American heroes, Maradona came from humble beginnings, raised in a shanty-town in Buenos Aires. Although his record was tarnished BY cocaine addiction and doping penalties, he was loved all over Argentina, South America, and the world - but he was also hated. He protested the presence of George W. Bush in Argentina, referred to him as "human garbage" and retitled a toilet bowl "the real white house". Several scenes in the documentary show soccer fanatics displaying tattoos of their beloved Diego and how he is honored almost as a religious icon. Screening at 10th International Latino Film Festival - San Francisco Bay Area on11/4/2006 @ 12:00 PM @ Castro Theatre (San Francisco) 11/18/2006 @ 2:00 PM @ CinéArts at Santana Row (San Jose)