In Iran, women are banned
from men's sporting events.
In 2005, Iran defeated Bahrein
to qualify for the World Cup.
I recently got this film on DVD and was amazed. From director Jafar Panahi, who also directed the amazing White Balloon, this is a tale of feminism and football, prejudice and patriotism.
It follows a group of Iranian girls who get arrested for disguising themselves as men and trying to sneak into the men-only football stadium to see Iran play Bahrein to qualify for the world cup. They are held in a pen where the football action is frustratingly out of sight for the young women.
Panahi uses this bizarre and unjust situation to expose and ridicule the archaic restrictions imposed on young Iranians by the right wing government and to poke fun at the gender clichés of Islam. One scene in which one of the girls must be escorted to the toilet by one of the guards is particularly amusing (there are no ladies toilets in a men-only stadium).
The amateur cast are completely convincing, especially the rough-talking tomboy, and the mini journey-of-discovery of the head guard is a joy to watch, as the film wonderfully illustrates the unifying power of a major sporting victory and consequent explosion of national pride can overcome such conservative prejudices.
It's certainly the best football film I have ever seen, even though you don't actually see a single football being kicked.
Watch the trailer here
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