Offside

Iran 2006, 88 minutes
Dir. Jafar Panahi
In Farsi with English subtitles
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama, Comedy

Topics: Sport.

Aroview: Filmed using non-professionals, in and around the unfolding events of an actual World Cup qualifier, Jafar Panahi expertly weaves a pseudo-documentary comedy of fanatical female soccer fans masquerading as boys in an attempt to enter Tehran stadium to cheer their beloved Iranian team to victory.

Makeshift disguises soon give way to capture by officials (given women are forbidden from attending sporting fixtures in stadia), and in the spirit of the onfield drama, a series of hilarious and argumentative breakouts follow. While still actively concerned with the social and feminist issues of his daring THE CIRCLE, this is Panahi’s most entertaining work to date, and in particular, a naturalistic and wildly successful instance of comic spontaneity.

NZ International Film Festival 2006