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Released to coincide with the World Cup, Offside is a bittersweet comedy from writer/director Jafar Panahi (The Circle, Crimson Gold), which will doubtless be labelled the 'Iranian Bend It Like Beckham'. Unfolding on the day of a crucial international qualifying game at Tehran's Azadi stadium, it begins with a teenage girl (Sima Mobarak-Shahi) disguised as a boy and attempting to get into the ground. Taken to a holding pen with other female fans, she faces questioning by the Vice Squad.
Confidently shot on handheld DV cameras and credibly acted, Offside recalls the best work of Ken Loach, in that the humour and the social critique emerge from the predicaments of the characters. And the closing footage of the joyful, real-life celebrations on the streets of the Iranian capital offer some hope for the country's future.
The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.
