Review of Offside (2015) by Line R — 30 Jun 2009
Iran's national football team is one draw away from being included in the football world cup. The nation is excited. Thousands of Tehranis pour into the Azadi stadium to watch their national team play against Bahrain.
Among them are a few football-crazy young Tehrani women. Problem is, women aren't allowed inside the stadium. Some slip in, but some get caught and are detained in a makeshift detention area outside the stadium galleries, waiting to be transferred to the 'vice squad'.
There, with a little help from the guards detaining them, they participate in the excitement from outside the stadium. Director Jafar Panahi uses the comic situations created by the draconian rules that govern women's lives in Iran to satirize the greater theme about Iranian women having to live as second-class citizens in their own country.
The film was actually shot at the stadium when the Iran-Bahrain match was going on - giving the stadium and celebration scenes a very real touch. Wonderful movie. Highly recommended.
This review of Offside (2015) was written by Line R on 30 Jun 2009.
Offside has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
