Football and film haven’t always had the smoothest of
relationships. Unlike some sports – boxing and American Football chief
among them – a consistent, lucrative formula for translating the world’s
most popular game into believable, entertaining silver screen fare has
yet to be crafted.
But this hasn’t stopped the Kicking + Screening Football Film
Festival from coming to London for a second consecutive year, and there
are plenty of reasons why. The festival will show ten films – primarily
documentaries – over a week long period at the independent Everyman
Cinemas across the capital.
It’s become a labour of love for organiser Tom Watt, the actor turned
football author and now presenter on Arsenal.com. The passion he and
his team have for K+S has resulted in huge growth for the festival in
2012, and according to Watt, a stronger schedule.
“The quality of film we’re showing this year is exceptional, and in
my opinion, higher than in 2011,” says Watt. “We’ve got two world
premieres – we didn’t have any last year – six UK premieres and a couple
of old favourites in the mix too. Premieres are what film festivals are
about, so to get hold of such high-quality movies is fantastic for us.”
So why, then, do mainstream football films have a history of poor
critical acclaim? According to Watt, the game is just too hard to
replicate, so football has to be the setting, rather than the story.
“As far as I can make out, it simply comes down to the fact that
actors can’t play football, and footballers can’t act,” he says. “This
has started to form my opinion that there is something fundamental about
football that cannot be staged, which is one of the many reasons it’s
one of the greatest games on earth.
“When you need acted football to move the story on, you have a
problem. For that reason, it’s no coincidence that nine of the ten
screenings at the festival are documentaries.”
The only ‘scripted’ film is one close to Watt’s heart. Not only does
Fever Pitch climax with a great moment in Arsenal’s history, but Watt
once toured a one-man stage show of the book which he counts as one of
the great jobs of his life. Does it matter though, that the film is,
essentially, a rom-com?
“There’s no doubt that Fever Pitch only succeeded because it’s a
romantic comedy,” says Watt. “Football doesn’t need to be a part of it
but it does form the backdrop – the world that the film takes place in.
And that’s what makes it appealing to people that wouldn’t normally like
a rom-com.
“Fever Pitch proves that you can have a scripted film with football
as a theme, as long as it’s not acted match-play. It’s the same with the
hooligan genre. I’m not particularly a fan of many of those films, but
there have been one or two good ones made. However, they’re not about
football, they’re about a lifestyle related to football.”
K+S isn’t just about the films though. Each screening is an event,
with special guest introductions and Q&A sessions included for some.
Arsenal legends Alan Smith, Ian Wright, Lee Dixon and Tony Adams are
presenting Fever Pitch on the opening night, with a special short film
on Adams’ work with the Azerbaijani club Gabala beginning proceedings.
For El Clasico, an impressive line-up of Steve McManaman, Albert
Ferrer, Guillem Balague and Jimmy Burns, as well as the film’s directors
will be fielding questions. Glen Hysen and Gabriele Marcotti are
introducing The Last Proletarians of Football and 11 Metri respectively,
and Patrick Vieira and Cyrille Regis are guests at the closing gala
screening of The Beautiful Game. Watt says he’s still hoping to book
more special guests.
Its clear K+S has gone from strength to strength thanks to the
enthusiasm of Watt and his team, who, he says, do it “just for the
craic.” Another unique and brilliantly run festival is sure to ensue,
and if a few myths about football films can be dispelled along the way,
then all the better for it.
Kicking + Screening 2012 – the line-up
Friday 28 September – Fever Pitch (8.30pm, Screen on the Green, Angel)
The genre-defining book documenting fan culture celebrates 20 years
this year, so what better way to start the festival than with its
rom-com silver screen cousin. Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and Alan Smith, who
all ‘star’ in the film, will be attending, along with Ian Wright.
Saturday 29 September – 1:1 Thierry Henry (10.30am, Belsize Park)
This special Kids Club event gets up close and personal with
Arsenal’s all-time record scorer as he adapts to life in New York City.
Sunday 30 September – Hero (3pm, Maida Vale)
The screening of this 2002 documentary will be a fundraiser for the
Bobby Moore fund, and will be introduced by the World Cup-winning
captain’s daughter Stephanie. Bobby Charlton, George Best, David Beckham
and Michael Caine all speak about Moore. “A fantastic film about a
fantastic man,” says Watt.
Monday 1 October – Danish Dynamite (6.30pm, Hampstead)
The story of the transformation of the Danish national team,
featuring its halcyon period throughout the 80s when they were one of
the most attractive teams in world football, to their unlikely European
Championships win in 1992.
Monday 1 October – The Last Proletarians of Football (9pm, Baker Street)
“Sven Goran Eriksson is whipping boy in this country, but this film
is a reminder of what he’s achieved in his career,” says Watt. The film
tells how the ‘Swedish Model’ of society was translated onto the pitch
through part-timers IFK Goteborg.
Tuesday 2 October – 11 Metri: The Penalty (6.45pm, Baker Street)
In May 1994, Agostino Di Bartolomei, captain of Roma’s
championship-winning side of the 80s, committed suicide with a gunshot
to the head, ten years to the day after Roma’s European Cup final defeat
to Liverpool. This UK premiere is highly regarded in Italy and draws on
the theme of player depression.
Tuesday 2 October – El Clasico (9pm, Maida Vale)
Last year’s Spanish night was so popular that the venue ran out of
beer, and this promises to enthral just as much. A group of students
from America travel to Spain to learn about the rivalry of Real Madrid
and Barcelona, with Steve McManaman and Albert Ferrer among a
start-studded panel for the following Q&A session.
Wednesday 3 October – The Anderson Monarchs (6.45pm, Baker Street)
The incredible true story of how an all-girls team in a dangerous
Philadelphian neighbourhood used football to thrive. “Practices are
broken by gunshots, and needles are found on the field,” says the
trailer.
Wednesday 3 October – Sleeping Giant (9pm, Baker Street)
From the makers of The Four Year Plan comes this documentary on
football in India, and why it’s yet to take off. It follows two boys
from Mumbai that win a competition to train at QPR’s academy. “It’s not
your typical documentary as there’s a reality TV feel to the boys’
incredible story,” says Watt. A panel discussion hosted by Mihir Bose
follows.
Thursday 4 October – The Beautiful Game (8.30pm, Baker Street)
The closing gala features Patrick Vieira and Cyrille Regis as guests,
and tells how football can change the fortunes of communities all over
Africa. It weaves together stories from across the continent about how
the game is used to defy the odds.
Sumber: http://www.thefootballramble.com/indepth/entry/kicking-and-screening-the-worlds-best-football-films
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