“ The Beautiful Game,” a new movie starring Bill Nighy and Michael Ward, is about a real international soccer tournament called the Homeless World Cup. Don’t go in expecting documentary realness or grit, however. This is a movie-movie (debuting on Netflix on Friday, tidily constructed to leave audiences feeling inspired and uplifted. Mind you, this isn’t a bad thing – verité authenticity has its place but so do well constructed, glossy fantasies that still evoke authentic emotion and get at some essential truths. “ The Beautiful Game,” directed by Thea Sharrock, is firmly the latter. Just managing expectations. The first Homeless World Cup was held in 2003, and in the past two decades, nearly 70 countries and 1.2 million people have participated. And yet, I suspect, its existence might come as a surprise to many (even soccer fans …excuse me, football). The foundation’s goals are noble, raising awareness for homelessness in major world cities and giving players a sense of pride and community. |
Auckland bus services disrupted by police search warrantBurglary: Hong Kong police arrest three men in relation to $903 million art heistChinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei protests possible extradition of Julian Assange in LondonArrests made after Lower Hutt siblings hospitalised with severe injuriesDigital declaration now available for all international travellers to NZMinistry of Ethnic Communities, set up to 'heal wounds' of 15 March, faces job cutsHezbollah launches rockets, drones into Israel as US warns IranLabour's Rino Tirikatene retires from politicsGreen Party activist puts forward radical manifesto in leadership bidWaymo's robotaxi service expands into Los Angeles, starting free rides in parts of the city