Nice People

Funny feel-good documentary about the first Somali ’Bandy’ (ice hockey) team in the world, consisting of Somali immigrants who live in the friendly Swedish town of Börlange. While having no ice skating experience whatsoever the boys wish to compete in the Bandy world championships in Siberia.

Patrik Andersson, an idealistic local businessman, further develops the project as a fun way for his somewhat xenophobic fellow countrymen to become acquainted with the numerous Somali refugees in his hometown. Together with a former Bandy champion he sets out to prepare the boys for the ultimate game. This apparently leads to great stress, as he spends lots of his time ‘relaxing’ in swimming pools, at the barber shop and in his bathtub. He also puts in a great deal of effort to generate media attention for his project, despite lacking money and some players not even having appropriate training gear. It seems virtually impossible to prepare a group of amateurs in just eight months for a performance on a world stage, against all odds and with limited financial means. Yet miracles only happen if you believe in them… A dry-comical and heart-warming footage of Somalis stumbling on skates, prejudiced locals, annoying sponsors and enthusiastic supporters from unexpected places.

Nice People is the Swedish documentary version of Cool Runnings, the hilarious 1993 movie about a Jamaican bobsleigh team participating in the Olympic Games.