Thursday July 17, 2008
8.30 pm to 10.30 pm
107 Times
Libre Indirecto
George Best’s Body
Maradona: Kicking the Habit
Friday July 18, 2008
7.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Well Played
Bloody Footy
FC Barcelona Confidential
Saturday July 19, 2008
6.00 pm to 8.30 pm
Defensive Midfielder
Ladies Night
FOOS: Be the Greatest
Saturday July 19, 2008
9.00 pm to 11.00 pm
Klappling
Two Absolute Giants
Sons of Sakhnin United
Sunday July 20, 2008
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Beckham and the Battle with Argentina
The Other Final
Sunday July 20, 2008
8.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Well Played
Barrier
The Name of the Game
Ginga: The Soul of Brazilian Football
|
JULY 17 TO 20. ACMI CINEMAS, FEDERATION SQUARE, MELBOURNE
|
From the boardrooms of Barcelona FC, the backyards of Australia and the streets of Brazil. A festival of films from all corners of the globe showcasing the round ball and those who love it. Collected for the first time in Australia,
The Beautiful Game presents a range of features and shorts highlighting the personalities, politics and action from the pitches of the world’s most loved sport.
|
Program 1 | THUR., JULY 17. | 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm |
 |
107 Times (107 Mal)
Dir: Felix Grimm, Kirstin Krüger 1:40 min |
|
 |
It is -9º in the middle of nowhere in the German federal state of Sachsen-Anhalt but Robert and his brother don’t give a damn! |
|
 |
|
|
Indirect Free Kick (Libre Indirecto)
Dir: Juanjo Giménez 10 min |
|
 |
During a regional soccer game, a goalkeeper is sent off.
A very special supporter will cheer up the substitute the
rest of the match. |
|
|
|
|
George Best’s Body
Dir: Dermot Lavery and Michael Hewitt 50 min |
|
 |
A film about the gift of talent and the burden of fame.
In March 2000 George Best was rushed to a private
hospital in west London. Bloated, yellow-skinned and in
severe pain, Best was losing a deadly game with his
most difficult opponent - alcohol. Doctors told Best that
one more drink could kill him.
Things used to be very different for George Best. In the
late 60's he was one the world's most striking and
talented athletes, the envy of men, the dream of women
and the owner of one of the most expensive bodies in
football. This documentary is the story of that body.
Along with the remarkable access footage, George
Best's Body includes a stunning range of archive
material, much of which has never before been seen on
television. |
|
|
|
|
Maradona: Kicking the Habit
Dir: Dermot Lavery and Michael Hewitt 50 min |
|
 |
"Argentina is Maradona. Maradona is Argentina." -
Argentine psychologist Gustavo Bernstein
He is possibly the greatest footballer of all time, certainly
of his generation, and a sporting icon to millions of
worshipping fans. Yet at the same time, he is flawed,
self-obsessed and prone to addiction.
Diego Maradona, the man who almost single-handedly
won the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, was a god,
venerated by a nation that feeds off its icons. But, after
rising so high, how did he fall so low? And is he now a
figure of national disgrace and embarrassment or an
exploited genius deserving of understanding and pity? |
|
|
|
| |
|
Program 2 | FRI., JULY 18. | 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm |
|
Well Played (Mal’oubeh)
Dir: Kosay Hamze 6:53 min |
|
 |
Hassan, a 10 year old boy, watches his favourite daily TV program through the window of his 16 year
old female neighbour. One day, he finds the window closed. Does he have a crush on her? Will football
provide the answer? A tale from the back streets of Beirut. |
|
|
|
|
Bloody Footy
Dir: Dean Chircop 15:00 min |
|
 |
To the alarm of his traditional Italian soccer loving
father, Mario wants a genuine Australian Rules
football for his tenth birthday. Vito fears that if
Aussie Rules wins out over his beloved soccer, it
could foreshadow terrible things for his family and
guide Mario away from his Italian heritage. It’s
only with some divine intervention that Papa
realises, if he gives a little, he’ll gain a lot, and
ultimately it was only the shape of the ball that was
different. |
|
|
|
|
FC Barcelona Confidential
Dir: Justin Webster and Daniel Hernández 1hr 30 min |
|
 |
The first season of president Joan Laporta and his
management team at the head of Barcelona FC. A
unique and unrepeatable documentary on the
process of renewal of the world’s biggest football
club.
With cameras in the boardroom, commentary
boxes, directors’ homes and even sitting in on
contract negotiations with big name players, it is
impossible to better this film for the opportunities it
gives to get inside a football club. The almost total
access and the frank, honest presentation is
fascinating viewing.
“A fascinating and revealing insight into a modern
football club” - The Times |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Program 5 | SUN., JULY 20. | 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm |
|
Beckham and the Battle with Argentina
Dir: Dermot Lavery and Michael Hewitt 50min |
|
 |
This film charts the explosive 35 year feud between
their two nations, when football became war by another means.
In 1966, after a particularly ill-tempered quarter-final
meeting, England manager, Sir Alf Ramsey refused
to let his players swap shirts with the opposition,
calling them "animals". 1977 saw Trevor Cherry
getting two teeth knocked out in a "friendly", whilst
1986 included the infamous Maradona "hand of God"
incident. Bringing the story up to date, few would
argue that in the 1998 World Cup finals that the
Beckham sending off against Argentina proved a
deciding factor in England crashing out of the
tournament.
Beckham and the battle with argentina includes
contributions from many key individuals including
David Seaman, Diego Maradona, Ray Clemence,
Trevor Cherry, John Barnes, Bobby Robson, Ossie
Ardiles and Ricky Villa. |
|
|
|
|
The Other Final
Dir: Johan Kramer 60min |
|
 |
A film about love, football and a faulty loudspeaker
The Other Final tells of a remarkable soccer game,
played the same day as the World Cup final in Japan
between Germany and Brazil. This game is between
the world's two lowest-ranked national clubs: Bhutan
(#202), and Montserrat (#203).
The film tracks the development of the idea for the
game, through the Montserrat team's travel from the
Caribbean to the Himalayas,\ then follows all the way
through to the nail-biting finale. This is a film about
sportsmanship, friendship, and the power to reach
across cultures. |
|
|
|
|
|
Program 6 |SUN., JULY 20. | 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm |
|
Well Played (Mal’oubeh)
Dir: Kosay Hamze 6:53 min |
|
|
Hassan, a 10 year old boy, watches his favourite daily TV program through the window of his 16 year
old female neighbour. One day, he finds the window closed. Does he have a crush on her? Will football
provide the answer? A tale from the back streets of Beirut. |
|
|
|
|
The Barricade (La Barriera)
Dir: Filippo Macelloni, Lorenzo Garzella 5:10 min |
|
 |
A true story: Guzmar, Albania 1995. Amateur Football Championship Final. Just a few seconds to the end whistle - dust, screams, fights - referee blows the whistle - free kick inside penalty area - public is enraged - the barricade is the goal line... |
|
|
|
|
The Name of the Game
Dir: Dragan Zivancevic 2:21 min |
|
 |
Summer of 1999. Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia, Yugoslavia. After the NATO air strikes on the city, a group of young people are playing football. It seems like everything is in order... |
|
|
|
|
Ginga: The Soul of Brazilian Football
Dir: Hank Levine 63min |
|
 |
Brazil has the most successful national football team of all time. However, this may not be the first thought that comes to mind when you think about Brazilian football. It is far more likely that the mental image is that of virtuosos who dress in yellow shirts and make fun of European deadlegs.
Beautiful and surprising games interspersed with brilliant individual performances have always been linked to Brazilian football. In similar fashion, German football immediately brings to mind the sleep-inducing order of their national team.
Ginga: The Soul of Brazilian Football, offers one explanation to the way the Brazilians play. This explanation is ginga. The word refers to the way the Brazilians make movement, rhythm and dance a part of football and their whole lives. It is not just about football; it is about an entire way of life. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
