FIFA!

 

Am I watching any of the football ( aka soccer) games? No…lol. I am not into sports but this is. Big deal all over the world…except for North America, more the States than us, Canadians. We are embracing  this sport much more than the States, I believe, so to honour this sport, I chose 3 films, that I have actually seen nd here they are..

1. ESCAPE TO VICTORY-1981

I have not seen this film since 1981, but I remember it being quite good even if it felt like a mashup of the films, “ The Great Escape” and “The Longest Yard”. It stars Michael Caine as a British POW officer and Sylvester Stallone as a U.S. POW who was part of the Canadian Army. Max Von Sydow plays the German Commandant who, with Caine, agree to a Soccer match between the German guards and the POW’s. Stallone uses a match to escape and makes it to the Paris, French underground. They compel him to go back to the camp so he can give vital information for the POW’s to escape en masse. Stallone agrees but, when recaptured, he is sent to solitary confinement. The match between the 2 will happen, but will the POW’s get the vital information from Stallone? I recall it being pretty good, not great, but an enjoyable David and Goliath film that was directed by the great John Huston. It is also noted to have some of the best Football greats of this time like Pelé.

2. LADYBUGS-1992

This is a dumb, silly flick that stars Rodney Dangerfield as a man who gets no respect. He hopes to get a promotion and more money at work nd his boss agrees provided he can get this all girls’ high school, soccer team into a  winning team. As you probably guess, they suck until Martha comes on board. Little do they know that Martha is a plant put there by their coach, Dangerfield. They also don’t realize that Martha is actually a boy, Rodney’s girlfriend’s son so you know there will be silly jokes that probably, would not fly today. It’s dumb, but I like Rodney Dangerfield who always had my respect even though when he was born, the doctor slapped his mother:)

3. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM-2002

I need to see this film again, it’s been too long. It stars Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightly as 2 gals who meet and become friends while playing football. Parminder shows a natural talent for this game but her parents forbid her from playing. They expect her to go to school and marry which is the last thing this gal wants. She sees her sister all into getting married and wants to play football even more so she secretly goes to all the matches telling her family that she has a job. All hell breaks loose when Nagra’s picture ends up in a newspaper and her family see this. She is grounded and is forbidden to play, her friendship is tested when she feels Keira has “stolen” the man she also likes and her mom( played so well by Sheheen Khan) thinks her daughter is in a lesbian relationship with Keira. This is a funny, heartwarming and thoughtful film that shows the love of football as well as the cultural issues that this Indian family tries to uphold in a different country. This was a breakout film for Keira Knightly and paved the way for Parminder Nagra who starred in ER and Archie Panjabi who went on to star in The Good Wife winning many awards. 

What Soccer/ Football movies come to your mind? 

Go Germany!