The main topic of conversation amongst soccer fans around the world is the upcoming nineteenth soccer World Cup in South Africa, which starts on Friday. Soccer themes in cinema have proven to be lucrative, because stories from the world of soccer often lend themselves to easily adapted powerful scripts. What links the films below is that they are all inspired from actual past World Cup tournaments, even though some of the stories featured in them are fictional.
Long Flat Balls (2006, Norway)
Despite the impending bankruptcy of their garage, six workers who are members of a brotherhood, decide to travel to Germany for the World Cup finals in 2006, where the Norwegian national soccer team is taking part. Painting on their naked bellies one letter each from the word Norway, they have to overcome any difficulties that occur on that trip and challenge themselves to find solutions for either personal or work related issues.
The Cup (1999, Bhutan/Australia)
The daily life in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery (situated in India) is changing as the World Cup of France in 1998 approaches. Two young monks, who have just arrived there, are soccer fans and they try to raise money for renting a TV and a satellite dish in order to watch the games. The film cast consists of real monks with no prior acting experience and its aim is to examine the philosophy of Buddhism and how it can coexist with human passions.
Sixty Six (2006, France/UK)
In 1966, twelve-year old Bernie is looking forward to his Bar Mitzvah when he discovers that it will coincide with the World Cup final. His worst fears come true when England qualifies for the final. Many of his friends and relatives start canceling their invitation to the ceremony in order to watch the big match. Adding to this, his parents (Eddie Marsan & Helena Bonham-Carter) are distracted by financial troubles as they may be losing their business. The film shows the effect of the World Cup tournament on a typical British family, and is directed by Paul Weiland. He later went on to direct Made of Honor.
The Game of their Lives (2002, UK)
Daniel Gordon’s superb documentary follows the North Korean national soccer team which played for the first time in the World Cup finals of 1966. Thinking of themselves as North Korea’s ambassadors they faced diplomatic problems like entering into British soil when England were yet to recognize the communist government of North Korea. When the tournament started, they earned the appreciation of sports fans around the world, with their passionate appearance leading them to a glorious victory against Italy (1-0), one of the biggest surprises in the history of the World Cup.
Barbosa (1988, Brazil)
This short fictional film refers to one of the most unlucky footballers in history. Moacir Barbosa Nascimento was the goalkeeper of Brazil’s national team in 1950, when the country hosted the tournament and lost the cup in the final match against Uruguay, a loss which was considered a national disaster. Although he didn’t make any grave mistakes during that match, Barbosa was linked to this defeat and was tormented throughout his life by his denigration by the Brazilian people, until his death in 2000. The film tells the story of a man who is frustrated by the Brazilians’ treatment of Barbosa and travels back in time to alert him before the fateful events occur.
Tasos Melemenidis - Watching and reading frantically about cinema as a teenager, had a major impact on my studies in IT. This was a negative impact as far as ...
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