The Black Meteor (Dutch: De zwarte meteoor) 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 in Dutch professional football.
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Plot
The film is set in the late 1950s, when football club SC Heracles, from Almelo in the rural east of the Netherlands, acquires an African player named Steve Mokone. After he joins Heracles, the team's fortunes improve, while he also changes every aspect of life in the small city. Mokone builds a unique friendship with the 15-year-old Felix, but then leaves town almost as quickly as he came.
Cast
Jet Novuka as Steve Mokone
Erik van der Horst as Felix Verbeek
Gijs Scholten van Aschat as Schouten, Heracles chairman
Peter Tuinman as Felix's father
Lieneke le Roux as Felix's mother
Thekla Reuten as Vera
Roef Ragas as Jaap Stegehuis
Caro Lenssen as Mies
Angelique de Bruijne as neighbor
Aus Greidanus as Heracles coach
Wouter van Oord as Tim
Guus de Wit as Jan
Benten Wijnen as Jan
Jop Kappelhoff as Koen
Frederik Brom as Rooie Gaait
Reception
Scott Foundas, writing for Variety, was not overly positive, criticizing its "holier-than-thou coming of age/race relations" quality.