Soccer Cinema's Goal: Bring Game to Rural South Africans

Much of the world will be watching the FIFA World Cup next month, but distance and money will prevent millions of actual South Africans from getting to see the tournament while it takes place in their own country.

That's why South African documentary filmmaker Don Edkins created Soccer Cinema, a traveling theater that has been screening soccer-themed films in small communities all over the country since April.

"The vast majority of South Africans will not have much to gain from the World Cup," Edkins says. "Some of these people have never seen a film before, and watching it does make them feel part of it all -- it makes them feel they haven't been neglected."

Through June 2, the Soccer Cinema minibus -- carrying a projector, a DVD player, a screen, 12 films, and several crew members -- will trek along South Africa's highways. At each location they will meet between 100 to 1,000 spectators, many of whom have to walk miles to see the films. Afterwards most will stay and participate in a moderated discussion on everything from key figures and moments from the history of the sport to broad ranging cultural issues.

(Watch two of the films after the jump.)

The miniature film festival starts with "The Ball," a five-minute piece that depicts boys in Mozambique who make soccer balls out of inflated condoms, string and cloth. 

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