The Black Meteor

{{short description|2000 film}} {{Infobox film | name = De Zwarte Meteoor | image = The Black Meteor.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Guido Pieters | producer = Matthijs van Heijningen | writer = Tom Egbers (novel), Kees van Beijnum (screenplay) | narrator = | starring = | music = | cinematography = Wouter Suijderhout | editing = Tatjana Schops | distributor = RCV Film Distribution | released = {{Film date|2000|12|11|df=yes}} | runtime = 107 minutes | country = Netherlands | language = Dutch<br/>English<br/>Afrikaans | budget = €2 million }} '''''The Black Meteor''''' ({{langx|nl|'''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.

==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.{{Editorializing|date=January 2026}} 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.<ref>{{cite news | last = Foundas | first = Scott | title = Rev. of ''The Black Meteor'' | work = Variety | place = | pages = | language = | date = 2001-07-23 | url = }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|id =0253987|title = De Zwarte Meteoor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Meteor}} Category:2000 films Category:2000 Dutch-language films Category:Films set in the 1950s Category:Dutch association football films Category:Films set in the Netherlands Category:2000 sports films Category:Films directed by Guido Pieters Category:RCV Film Distribution films Category:Films produced by Matthijs van Heijningen Category:2000 Dutch films