The Other Final Movie Review:


Synopsis:

Fascinated by losers, Dutch filmmaker Johan Kramer becomes obsessed with the two worst teams in FIFA: lowly Bhutan (ranked 202) and dismal Montserrat (203). He eventually hits upon an idea: why not organise a World Cup final of his own – but for the two lousiest sides on the planet?

Hot Hot Hot !

Yes that’s how you should be feeling after the heart-warming tale of The Other Final.

The Other Final is a documentary that tells the true story of the OTHER World Cup Final of 2002.

A Holland supporter after feeling dejected at Holland not making it to the World Cup Final’s in Japan decided to have a look at the FIFA rankings and see how badly Holland were doing, he noticed that at the bottom of the rankings at 202 and 203 were Montserrat and Bhutan. And in what could so easily have just been a very bad joke, he decided to contact both countries and ask if they wanted to stage their OWN World Cup Final.

Remarkably, instead of immediately throwing the request in the bin, both countries embraced the idea and decided to go ahead with the plan. This is where the movie comes in as it follows both countries preparations right up to and including the final.

It follows the trials and tribulations that include the Coach of Montserrat resigning just before the team leaves for the actual final,no referee hired until two days before the final,most of the Monserrat team being unwell on arrival as well as many other stories along the way. You are with both countries all the way; you really do have to feel for the Monserrat coach as he makes a stand not to go to the Final, as he was unable to pick the team, with the Monserrat Football Federation President picking the final team.

That threw into sharp relief the joyous naivety that was on display by both countries. Neither country had a proper stadium, to train or play in and they had both had major defeats by other countries, but still they looked on this not as someone taking the mickey but as a joyous celebration of the game of football.

The organisers of the game tried to gain sponsorship for the game from Nike and Adidas, naturally they were rebuffed, this was a great way of them expressing that the game was about what football should really be about, playing the game and believing in each other, not the business side of things.

The documentary had many laugh out loud moments, such as during the game, when a dog ran on the pitch. Now at a normal game you could envisage the commentator criticising the organisers for this happening and getting all hot under the collar about it, not here, they just got on with the game!

Also the continual use of Monserrat’s theme song, Hot Hot Hot! which referred to the volcanic explosion on the island a few years previously. This could so obviously have been a sad song lamenting the trouble the volcano caused them, but oh no they used it to exalt their positivity and happiness!

This movie, made myself and the others attending the screening laugh out loud, at the events unfolding in front of our eyes. Now this so easily could have been sarcasm, instead, we felt warmly for the participants. What this documentary really reminded me of was the movie Cool Runnings that told the story of the Jamaican Bob sled team. The tone and theme and themes of both films, triumph over adversity, and winning isn’t everything are always ones that draw favourable reactions.

One thing I really liked that the movie stressed was that no matter how different we are on the outside, we are all the same on the inside. Yes it's been said a thousand times over, but there's no harm in hearing it again here

An absolute joy of a movie!

Gary Gray

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