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Arsenal Stadium Mystery
London, 1940: During a charity soccer match between top professional side Arsenal and touring amateur side Trojans, the Trojan's new star player collapses.
When he dies, Inspector Slade of Scotland Yard is called in and declares it was murder. It takes all his ingenuity and another death before the motive is discovered and the killer revealed.
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Blue is the Colour
In their documentary, Marina Jankovic and Chloe Barreau follow Chelsea on their 2003-04 European Champions' League campaign. They interview a broad cross-section of Chelsea fans - from a millionairess bridge teacher, to a cheeky, though eloquent if slightly bad-mouthed Opera manager, to a London taxi driver with a heart of gold who refuses to swear, despite his overwhelming passion for the team.
The documentary seeks to explain the irrational passion for football and their team that the participants in the film share, despite their very different lives and views.
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Moving the goalposts
Football, one of the most written and talked about sports in the world, inflames passions, provokes violence and inspires an almost religious devotion amongst its fans. Despite this, it remains the people's game from the small boys (and girls) who emulate their heroes in parks and back gardens, to the grizzled veteran who can remember the days when his team was expected to beat the world.
This collection of short films on football concentrates largely on fans, their rivalries and loyalties, the family tensions and the darker side represented by football hooliganism. Many of the films highlight the influence that the game has on younger fans who dream of cup final glories or of meeting their idol in person. Two films, 'See You At Wembley, Frankie Walsh' and 'This Boy's Story', made by graduate students from the National Film & Television, have each received the ultimate accolade by winning the Oscar for Best Student Film. |
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The Football Factory
Based on the acclaimed novel by John King, The Football Factory is about a forgotten culture of males fed up with being told they're no good and using violence as a drug they describe as being more potent than sex and drugs put together.
Adapted and directed by Nick Love, The Football Factory is seen through the eyes of four men, all of who have a different story to tell about their experience with tribal culture on the terraces of the beautiful game. |
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The Game of their Lives
This fascinating documentary presents the history of the legendary North-Korean national side. The team sensationally qualified for the World Cup in England in 1966 and even made it to the quarter-final.
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Mike Bassett
This film is a fictional, mock-documentary that follows the hilarious rise of a provincial coach to the position of England 's national manager. Over night Mike Basset is assigned the task of leading England into the World Cup.
In a satirical fashion the film attacks the people, quirks and mechanisms of English football. |
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Purely Belter
The film, based on Gateshead teacher Jonathan Tulloch's debut novel The Season Ticket, follows two Geordie lads whose wild ambition is to get season tickets for their football team, Newcastle United. Gerry (Chris Beattie) and Sewell (Greg McLane) are broke but they are also resourceful, devising schemes and scams in their attempts to raise the £1,000 they need.
However, real life - Gerry's violent dad, Sewell's pregnant girlfriend - keeps getting in the way.
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Bend it like Beckham
If you're 18, love Beckham and can bend a ball like him the world's your oyster, right? Wrong. If you're Jess - 18, Indian and a girl - forget it. Do you think your marriage-obsessed folks will let you play a Man's game?
If you're Jules - 18, English and a girl - what will it take to convince your mother that just because you play footie with girls doesn't mean you're a lesbian?
Both girls dream of playing professionally - that means going to the States where the girls get paid, get sponsorship and get proper respect. Jess and Jules are on their way with help from their coach, Joe, until they both fall in love with him.
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Mean Machine
Danny Meeham is a legendary football player. Unfortunately, he can't stop himself having one drink too many. When he is caught driving drunk he is put in prison and while there is forced into coaching the prisoner's team.
A match against the guards is scheduled and each side use blackmail, savvy and invidious tricks to try and gain an advantage. |
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George Best: Genius, Maverick, Legend
The rise of the modern footballer as multi-millionaire superstar can arguably be traced to the emergence in the 1960s of one George Best. Best combined dishevelled good looks, supreme talent and a rock n roll lifestyle that made him the first in what has since become a long line of players whose antics have become big news.
George Best had the confidence and arrogance to try absolutely anything - he knew he was a genius and was not afraid to show the world. He revelled in the limelight but as the first of the new superstars, found himself unable to cope with the temptations thrown at his feet. Alcohol, late nights & women. He indulged in them all and as a result walked out of top class professional football in 1972 aged just 26. |
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