Kelsey’s quarantine list of must-watch football films
Now our TVs are temporarily without live footy and new MOTD episodes, here are some tips for getting the beautiful game back on screen! A selection of my favourite features, documentaries, and shorts available to watch at home. From the famous personalities that we know and love – Diego Maradona, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Brian Clough, to the underdog stories that warm your heart – following flailing and floundering clubs like American Samoa, Sunderland, Torquay United, and L'Equip Petit. A few wildcards, like a Cristiano Ronaldo–lookalike in a pink and psychedelic satire, or octagonal football pitches in a Romanian comedy doc. And the rest, most importantly, are inspiring stories told by women and girls, on both sides of the camera. From the pivotal Bend it Like Beckham of the 00s, through to the beautiful and contemporary expressions of football’s grassroots found in Sunakali, Footeuses and Nike x Gurls Talk – Spit Fire, Dream Higher.
Enjoy these! And let us know if you have film tips of your own to share.
Documentaries
Next Goal Wins
American Samoa has the loveliest residents but the worst international team. Bottom of the FIFA rankings and holding the record 31–0 defeat. An enthusiastic Dutch coach travels over from his home the US for a few weeks in an attempt to turn things around for the island team. The ultimate underdog story – very moving!
Taika Waititi (2014), USA, 97’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Sunakali
A spectacular story of 13-year-old Sunakali Budha, who they call the ‘Himalayan Messi’. She saw football for the first time in 2011 and within a few years became the star player in her village. Despite obstacles thwarting their progress, her team fights to keep play together against a harsh but beautiful backdrop, 3500m high in Nepal’s Mugu region.
Bhojraj Bhat (2015), Nepal, 59’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Diego Maradona
The Argentinian striker’s compelling and tragic life of gangsters, glory, goals, and addiction. Directed by the maker of the acclaimed F1 documentary Senna, who spared us the talking heads to deliver a beautiful narrative. It has to be the best football documentary in a while!
Asif Kapadia (2019), UK, 130’ | Watch on BFI Player
Superjews
An interesting film about symbolism and identity in football. The filmmaker questions her Jewish identity when she meets Ajax ‘Superjews’ in her new city of Amsterdam. She investigates why fans appropriated the nickname – use the Star of David, Israeli flags and sing songs like 'Hava Nagila’.
Nirit Peled (2013), Netherlands, 66’ | Watch on IDFA.nl
Footeuses
A concrete football doc about women's football and the protagonists playing in Paris. It’s for ‘the girls who have learned to handle the ball like boys, and with them. For those who still doubt those girls, those who encourage them...’, say the makers. Recently, we met with co-director Lyna at the film’s London screening – watch the interview here.
Ryan Doubiago & Lyna Saoucha (2020), France, 46’ | Watch free on YouTube
Gurls Talk: Spit Fire, Dream Higher
Our favourite Adwoa Aboah of Gurls Talk collaborated with Nike to make this short documentary – part of the ‘Dream Crazy’ story. Adowa, together with PSG striker Nadia Nadim, visits fearless young girls in their hometowns around the world. Beautifully showing us the sisterhood, strength, and self-expression of football’s grassroots.
Felix Cooper (2019), UK, 43’ | Watch free on YouTube
I Believe in Miracles
Brian Clough’s admired green jumper, matched with a super-groovy soundtrack. A celebration of his ‘miraculous’ work at the lowly and underachieving club, Nottingham Forest. A more accurate depiction of Cloughie than you’ll see in the fictional Damned United (2009) – though, still well worth a watch too!
Jonny Owen (2015), UK, 104’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Becoming Zlatan
Amazing archive footage of Zlatan Ibrahimović as a yoot! Following the Swedish player from his debut at Malmö FF to his days at Ajax and his later breakthrough with Juventus in 2005. It’s a coming-of-age documentary capturing the journey of the talented but awkward teenage outcast, on his way to becoming a superstar.
Fredrik Gertten & Magnus Gertten (2015), Sweden, 96’ | Watch on Vimeo
Sunderland 'Til I Die
A fabulous fly-on-the-wall docu-series (two seasons worth!) following the struggling Sunderland. The first series saw the heartbreak of Premier League relegation, and despite it, the passion and imagination of their supporters. The new series, just released on 1 April, follows the club in the Championship during the 2018/19 season and their efforts to bounce back.
Various directors (2018), UK, 8 episodes | Watch on Netflix
Infinite Football
One of the anomalies in the list. A peculiar but delightful comic doc about one man's dream of changing the great game – with octagonal pitches (!) and rules of his own. By the Romanian new-wave filmmaker whose latest film The Whistlers recently hit cinemas.
Corneliu Porumboiu (2018), Romania, 71’ | Watch on iTunes
3 million
Iconic Uruguayan musician Jaime Roos and his Dutch photographer son Yamandu are reunited to embark on a road trip to the 2010 South African World Cup – together with the entire Uruguayan national team (including Luis Suárez)! A joyous account of Uruguayans watching football, and the love and tensions of a father-son relationship.
Yamandu Roos & Jaime Roos (2011), Uruguay, 136’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Stills from the documentaries above in order
Feature films
Diamantino
Portugal's (or arguably the world's) best footballer, Diamantino Matamouros, loses his footy genius and ends his career in disgrace. Searching for a new purpose, he sets out on a delirious odyssey. A bizarre, psychedelic and political satire takes you all over the place – with the pink clouds and fluffy puppies!
Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt (2019), Portugal/France/Brazil, 96’ | Watch on BFI Player
Marvellous
A heartwarming TV biopic about the life of Niel Baldwin, a Stoke City fan with learning difficulties, who shrugs off his perceived limitations to live an incredible life. Amongst many things, he’s the kit man and mascot of his beloved team. If you’re missing a brilliant and uplifting 90 minutes, try this!
Julian Farino (2014), UK, 90’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Offside
A spirited film in which Iranian females, forbidden to watch football, masquerade as males so they can slip into Tehran's Aryamehr Stadium to watch Iran vs Bahrain. This one’s really worth looking back on now that the ban on women watching football has been lifted in Iran with the Open Stadiums Movement, following the death of Sahar Khodayari last year.
Jafar Panahi (2006), Iran, 93’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Looking for Eric
Let’s not forget that our favourite socialist filmmaker Ken Loach once made a film with the creative Eric Cantona! A whimsical story of two Erics: the football fanatic postman Eric Bishop, whose life is descending into crisis receives life coaching from his imaginary friend, the philosopher-footballer Cantona.
Ken Loach (2009), UK, 116’ | Watch on Amazon Video
Bend it Like Beckham
This list could never be complete without Bend it Like Beckham! Girls bending the rules and cultural norms to reach their footballing dreams – the best of football feel-good. Director Gurinder Chadha bent it big time herself with this film in the ‘00s, winning our hearts forever with its enduring appeal.
Gurinder Chadha (2002), UK, 112’ | Watch on BFI Player
Stills from the feature films above in order
Shorts
Losers: The Jaws of Victory
An episode part of a docuseries celebrating the failures endured by sport’s most downtrodden. Of course, the football story is the best of them! It’s about Torquay United’s famous 1987 'Great Escape' – an astonishing incident with a dog on the pitch.
Mickey Duzy (2019), UK, 30’ | Watch on Netflix
Nefta Football Club
In this gem, two young football fan brothers – a great comedy duo – bump into a donkey in the desert on the border of Algeria. Strangely this donkey wears headphones and has a stash of white powder on his back. The rest is a series of hilarious misunderstandings and an ending you won’t see coming!
Yves Piat (2018), France/Tunisia/Algeria, 17’ | Watch on Vimeo
Girls in Guyville (Meisjes Met Jongensdromen)
A sweet, simple film in which curly-haired Dutch twins Paola and Yvette, aged thirteen, talk about their love of playing football together and playing as girls. Keep an eye out for Edgar David's appearance!
Anneloor van Heemstra (2007), The Netherlands, 23’ | Watch for free on Vimeo
L'Equip Petit (The Little Team)
In Barcelona, ‘The Little Team’ (young Margatania F.C.players) talk to their worried parents about the joy they have for playing despite their lack of success and ability to score a goal. An adorable life lesson from children and a reminder of the beauty of football.
Roger Gomez (2012), Spain, 9’ | Watch for free on Vimeo
Words: Kelsey Lee Jones