Jafar Panahi's new movie, Offside captures the passion of the global game and the hold it has on the Iranian public, both men and women. The backdrop is the Iran vs Bahrain qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup. A group of women try to sneak into the stadium defying a law that bans women from watching live soccer matches.
Panahi's decision to make this film was inspired by his own personal experience with the law.
" Also, four years ago I was living near the stadium where our football team trains. I wanted to go and watch and my daughter wanted to come with me. I tried to explain to her that she couldn't, but she nevertheless wanted to try. So we set out with the entire family, that way if my daughter was refused entry, my wife could take her back home. We went to the stadium entrance and, as I had expected, my daughter was refused entry. I told her to go home with her mother, but she found another way of getting into the stalls and to my surprise, she joined me. This event also inspired my thoughts about the film, which I tucked away in a corner of my mind. When I realized Iran once again had a chance at being selected for the World Cup, I decided the time was right to do this film. "
Panahi's Offside opened in the US this March. New Yorkers can get a chance to see this wonderful film at the Quad Cinemas.
Offside synopsis and Jafar Panahi's thoughts on the movie >>
Jafar is from Iran and he know that the iranian all are very good pepole in hart but he be tarid them in the Movie "circle" he is just about to make a $$ he don't realy care..
he make all men so bad in this movie he is a man too and he also claims that women has no value in Iran well he has a mother too. and father etc.. he is not an artis at all Iranians are not arabs and regardless of what is going on with the Government now.. Iranian are the same as when the Shah was in charge only diffrent circumstances.. so Mr. jafar please quite insalting the Iraninans. in this way.. so.
I once read a soccer essay by that Sslman Rushdie (btw, born in India but scorned by the Ayatollah) and it was real good. I assume this movie was not made in Iran. I'm sorry the situation is so troubling over there.