The Flags Never Stop Moving

Filmmaker Jannik Schlüter dives into Bogotá’s football fever — and finds himself lost in a sea of blue, white, and pure emotion.

When filmmaker Jannik Schlüter made his way to Colombia, he expected passion, colour, and noise. What he didn’t expect was to be completely swallowed by it — deep in the heart of Bogotá, inside Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín, for a showdown between Millonarios and Atlético Nacional.

“Nemesio Camacho actually isn’t the biggest stadium in Colombia,” Jannik recalls, “but you don’t really feel that when you’re there. Instead, you feel the intensity in the stands because it’s such a dense atmosphere. You literally have to fight your way to secure a place — at least in the ‘standing area’. It’s seats, but nobody sits.”

There, among the smoke, the chants, and the chaos, he found himself swept into something far larger than football.

“Even there you’ll find old men, young women — something you cannot escape from. They handed me a flag to wave for the choreography, which even after explaining three times that I had to take photos, they insisted on giving me. Well… the first 45 minutes I didn’t see anything but flags in front of me.”

It was full immersion — a living, breathing theatre of devotion.

“Millonarios are from Bogotá, making them a big club per se. But it’s also one of the most successful teams in Colombia, especially with their past glory. So when Nacional — who took over a little ever since the ’90s — come to play against them, it’s like Madrid against Barcelona.”

That clash of history and pride defines the fixture.

“Millonarios, being from the capital, have a slightly more elitist fan scene — more middle class. It’s a lot about tradition and prestige — almost nostalgic.”

Bogotá itself mirrors that intensity — sprawling and unrelenting.

“Bogotá is such a big city. It takes you forever to cross from north to south with the train — yet still you find fans all over the place. Interestingly, going to the stadium, it didn’t even seem like there was a game going on… until suddenly, after the next corner, everything was full of blue and white.”

Everywhere he looked, football was pulsing through daily life.

“There’s not a single day where you can’t hear or see a TV showing some kind of football.”

His advice to anyone thinking about experiencing Colombian football?

“People should definitely go watch a game — maybe opt for the west or east stands since it can get hectic with the more fanatic fans. Also, there are beautiful jerseys all around!”

And if you have time, he says, don’t stop in Bogotá.

“I’d also recommend going to a game in Medellín if there’s a chance. It’s a very different stadium. Seeing Nacional or Independiente in Medellín is also worth it!”

Bogotá was a window into the soul of Colombia — a place where the flags never stop moving, where the songs never fade, and where football is not simply watched, but lived.