Winners uses football to tell a family drama about belonging and self-confidence. Soleen Yusef follows eleven-year-old Mona, who has fled Syria with her family and must find her place at a difficult new school in Berlin's Wedding district.
Dileyla Agirman gives Mona an impressive, authentic presence. Her performance makes the setbacks and renewed determination emotionally convincing. Andreas Döhler contributes a strong connection as the teacher who recognises her potential.
The team provides more than a route towards sporting success. Friendship and shared effort give Mona a way to respond to bullying and uncertainty, connecting the game with wider concerns about acceptance. The relationships form the film's emotional backbone.
Yusef's personal connection to the material strengthens the direction. The story has a credible sense of the difficulties involved in arriving somewhere unfamiliar, while remaining accessible to children and adults. Football supporters are not the only viewers it can engage.
Stephan Burchardt's camera captures both the intensity of the matches and the characters' emotional world. Music and design support the setting, helping the story feel lived rather than simply instructional.
Winners is a warm, moving film about facing difficulties together. Its strong acting and careful craft give the message substance, showing that success can mean more than finishing first. Mona's story makes the connection between integration, friendship and teamwork engaging without limiting its appeal to a sports audience.