A NEW SHOW. We love a new show.
But some familiar voices – Gerry Donaldson, Anna Walsh and Steve Graves hosted by Neil Atkinson are your guides for this new one.
It is Well Watched – our first film show.
The concept then – to alternate with Well Read we’re going to look at three films every other month that are either about football or include notable football scenes. We’re not going to make any prescriptions about documentary or fiction. Just pick three and go from there.
This time out therefore we have Escape To Victory from 1981 directed by John Huston, The Secret In Their Eyes from 2009 and directed by Juan Jose Campanella and Offside from 2006 and directed by Jafar Panahi.
They are three very different films – Escape To Victory the would be blockbuster with Pele et al. The Secret In Their Eyes with its fantastic set piece at Racing Club in Argentina. Offside, a classic piece of Iranian guerilla film-making.
Let us know what you think then – Well Watched. Well played?
All
Listened to Well Watched yesterday. While skeptical a first, I quickly realized my fears were unfounded. The contributions of all involved were insightful and entertaining.
I do have a suggestion for a possible review: Timbuktu. An islamic fundamentalist group invade a town in western Mali (hence the title). It is a beautiful movie which does not demonize either side, and portrays ordinary people being caught up in something that is not of their making. Among the many cultural and social norms which are banned by the occupying force, is football. The scene in which the local kids play football without a ball may be the greatest choreographed piece of film making ever. This is balanced with the regular fighters of the occupying force arguing whether Zidane is the greatest footballer ever, despite the declarations of their leaders that football (among other things) are anti-Muslim.
Please seek this film out.
Loving the whole Anfield Wrap thing on the north side of the 49th Parallel.
Keep up the great work.
Cheers from Toronto
Stephen
Lovely show, as ever. May I suggest an ironic gesture, in that the football is never seen? The classic Likely Lads episode in which Bob and Terry spend the whole show trying to avoid the score and Brian Glover’s only to happy to ruin their day. Gerry will be familiar with it.