Exploring Resilience: Isco Alarcón’s Journey in ‘En Silencio’

“En Silencio. La resiliencia de Isco Alarcón,” a documentary film recorded and directed by Sara Sálamo, is set to premiere in theaters on the 24th of this month. This afternoon, it will also be screened at the Sevilla Film Festival. The film presents not just a typical story of overcoming adversity; it offers an intimate look into the vulnerable side of professional athletes, with Betis captain Isco as the central figure. It explores the realities that lie beyond the spotlight, stadiums, and media headlines. Viewers will witness the hardships of a severe injury, the struggle to move forward, the doubts about whether talent can endure a lengthy period of inactivity, and the excitement of facing new challenges.

Filmed over several months during the previous season, this documentary provides a personal and chronological account that begins with a visit by Pellegrini’s team to the Gran Canaria Stadium in May 2024. It was here that Isco suffered a serious injury, derailing his dream of participating in the Eurocup—a tournament for which he seemed a guaranteed selection by coach Luis de la Fuente. This incident marked the start of a lengthy and arduous recovery process, culminating in his return to the pitch in December and extending to the March 2025 selection list, from which he was ultimately excluded against all expectations.

On that day, Betis was unable to return home from Porto to Seville after a resounding victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes that secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Conference League due to a storm. Their flight was redirected to Málaga, adding to the difficulties of Isco’s return home. In an airport departure lounge, he followed the selection announcement through his mobile phone. His return to the national team had to wait a few more months until the Nations League, where he finally realized his dream of being an international player as a member of the verdiblanco squad. This aspect of his journey remains outside the documentary, which focuses on the struggles, frustrations, and quiet determination during his injury until he could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

On a more personal note, Isco is portrayed as a true football enthusiast, watching matches at all hours—from home donned in historic Betis jerseys, in his car following LaLiga on his phone when he isn’t driving, to cheering and suffering alongside his team in the stands of the Benito Villamarín. He never neglects his role as a family man, playfully engaging with his children on the couch, taking them to matches, enjoying their stories through video calls, and even managing to prepare their breakfast while relying on crutches and wearing an orthopedic boot.

From a professional standpoint, Sara Sálamo’s perspective behind the camera captures the footballer’s anxiety as he travels to Madrid for an examination of his injury at Olympia: X-rays, MRIs, check-ups, and concerns about the potential need for future surgery to remove the large plate that was affixed to his fibula until the bone healed. The moment when José Manuel Álvarez, the first-team physician of Betis, informed him that it was finally time to relinquish the crutches—accompanied by a somewhat biblical “get up and walk”—marks a turning point. Viewers witness the countless hours Isco spent in the gym, tending to the large scar on his visibly swollen leg—a lasting reminder that any obstacle can be overcome.

Eneko Angulo, Betis’s reconditioning coach, was Isco’s constant companion on this rocky journey. His support, intimate conversations, and motivational strategies were crucial during the months of solitary training, illustrating the silent effort and hours spent in the gym with the sole goal of resetting the journey. “The Barça, I have it in my sights,” Isco would say, setting a target date for his return, which ultimately materialized after several days of training with the group, discussions with the medical team and Pellegrini, and the crafting of a special shin guard to protect the injured area.

“I’ve been told you never forget that feeling,” Isco remarked when asked if he would remember playing football the first time he laced up his boots again after half a year. “Every day that passes, I’m losing fear… although I still have a bit,” he acknowledged. That fear was completely erased on December 7 of the previous year when he finally returned to the pitch on the day he had hoped for, at home, against Flick’s team, in a thrilling match where Betis scraped a valuable draw, and Isco was hailed as a hero by fans who idolize him.

A month earlier, at the MARCA Awards in Madrid, Isco was honored as the Favorite of the Fans. This moment is captured in the documentary, where Isco shares the mantra he had followed almost since the day of his injury: “Work hard and diligently to try and return to the same level I was at. Life throws stones and obstacles at you, and you must do everything possible to overcome them.” Sadly, he had to reiterate this lesson this season due to a similar injury suffered last August, though he is now finally on the mend, looking forward to returning to competition after the FIFA date.

The moments of frustration Isco expressed toward Sara for filming him during challenging times do not go unnoticed in the documentary, which features rarely seen footage inside the team’s hotel, locker room, and bus en route to the stadium. One of the film’s highlights includes his emotional celebration of a penalty goal against Real Madrid, dedicated to his wife, who filmed the moment from the sidelines. The documentary captures the loneliness, the significance of mental health, and the harsh environment sometimes experienced in football stadiums, while also showcasing the innocent questions from his children, which deeply resonate with the Betis captain: “Dad, will you always be injured?” The answer became clear in December and will soon be reiterated because Isco’s resilience surpasses any injury.