Sugar (2008)

October 16, 2021 9:44 AM

Follows the story of Miguel Santos, a. k. a. Sugar (Algenis Perez Soto), a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macorís, struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States' minor league system; but when his play on the mound falters, he begins to question the single-mindedness of his life's ambition.

Currently on Starz and for digital rental in the US.

posted by DirtyOldTown (1 comment total)

The very plot point that makes this poignant as an indie drama about immigrants is the same thing that makes it somewhat unsatisfying as a baseball movie: Sugar doesn't get very far.

The baseball scenes are terrific, some of the best done.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:15 PM on October 18, 2021