5 Films: That Football Fans Must Watch

Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)

Goal is a story of a small town boy Santiago Munez who gets scouted to play in the English Premier League side Newcastle United. The movie traces, through his journey from America to Europe, a voyage of hopes, dreams and desires. The movie sheds light on the little things that make a huge difference in the life of a professional footballer. Also, as the movie was made with support from FIFA, authentic club names and players, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Sven Goran Erikson, Rafael Benitez, can be seen in cameo roles throughout the film.

United (2011)

One won't find a single football fan who hasn't heard of the 1958 Munich air disaster. Of all the plane crashes in the history of the world, if there's one that can match the popularity of the plane that crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, it is this. Why? Because the entire squad of Manchester United was on board this flight. The 'Busby Babes', as they were fondly referred to by their fans, got a severe blow after eight of their players lost their lives in the crash. United, is a story of a tragedy told from the point of view of hope. It is a tale of football's triumph over life. You will love it if you are a Manchester United fan and if you are not, well, you will still love it.

Looking for Eric (2009)

Eric Bishop is a postman and a Manchester United fanatic whose life is going in a downward direction. He has to take care of his granddaughter which means he has to see his ex-wife. And his step son is a teenager who gets involved with carrying arms and dealing drugs. Owing to this, Eric considers suicide. But he decides against it and borrows a little cannabis from his neighbour; thus, inducing the hallucination that Eric Cantona, arguably Manchester United's greatest number 7, is talking to him. The film revolves around how Cantona, a well-known philosopher, aids Eric's comeback from a rut of a life that he is living. While Bishop is looking Cantona to provide him with a solution to his problems, he realises that the Eric he was looking for, lies within. The film has blurred the thin line that divides life and football.

Victory (1981)

Popularly known as Escape to Victory, the film is about Allied POWs who are made to play a match against the German national team in order to be freed from prison. Sounds familiar, no? Yes, it's Hollywood's Lagaan. But Lagaan didn't have real cricketers. The film's cast has several world renowned footballers like Pele, Bobby Moore and Osvaldo Ardilles. Sir Michael Caine, who plays Captain John Colby, puts together a competent team to face the Germans and convinces Sylvester Stallone (Robert Hatch) to play. But when they realise that they will not be released after the game, they try to escape from custody. Torn between wanting to run away and finishing the game by winning it, the Allies decide to play. Whether they win, whether they escape; you'll just have to watch to find out.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002) 

Bend It is a story of a Punjabi girl who lives in England and is a huge David Beckham fan. She also plays football for a local club. The film focuses on her dilemma of wanting to be a professional footballer and pursuing her impossible dream of playing alongside Beckham; and her family life. Her father (Anupam Kher) staunchly opposes the idea of his daughter wearing shorts and playing a sport for the British. Jess is torn between the two worlds. But when the day comes, and she has to choose between playing in an important match and attending her sister's wedding, what she does will determine her life. The film has Gurinder Chadha at her best. And to top it all off, yes, we do see a glimpse of David Beckham.

Published in DNA After Hrs (Pune) on June 21, 2012