Offside
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DVD Cover Information
Brand: HUJBER,FERENCDVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Farsi (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 93 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-08-28
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Offside
Movie Review: Brave, Intelligent Women Seek To Challenge The Iranian Status Quo
Summary: 5 Stars
Jafar Panahi's "Offside" is a simple but powerful film. It involves several different young women who have been placed in a roped off "security area" for attempting to sneak into a World Cup soccer match between Iran and Bahrain. They are guarded by a group of bored army soldiers and much of the film involves the exchange of comments and wise cracks between the women and the soldiers.
In terms of action not a whole lot happens except for a very funny scene involving one of the women being escorted to the bathrom. But still I found myself enjoying the movie and admiring what it had to say about social circumstances and gender roles in Iran. The women are smart and quick witted, much braver and more perceptive than the knuckle head men guarding them. The final part of the movie is the best as the women are transported from the soccer stadium and finally given a chance to take part in the victory celebrations occuring all over the city.
Obviously, Iran is much more extreme in its sexism and gender segregation than the United States. But still the sort of "women and men are different" and "women's purity needs to be protected" arguments offered by the soldiers are not all that different from certain "men are the head of household" ideas now presented by the Southern Baptist Convention and other religious right wingers in this country.
Of course, the Iranian mullahs are even worse, especially since they have so much power in Iran. I believe that our strong national heritage of separation of church and state will prevent religious nutcases from ever seizing power in the United States and attempting to install a theocratic police state here. But the possibly is certainly terrifying.
Fortunately, there is hope, even for Iran, as the country possesses a substantial number of people, perhaps a majority, who wish to overthrow the mullahs and establish a secular, democratic state. Certainly the U.S. could do better by working to empower the more moderate elements in the country rather than propping up the anti-U.S. extremists with the saber rattling rhteoric of Bush/Cheney. The Iranian people deserve better than the mullahs and we, through diplomatic channels and political influence rather than war, need to help them get there.
Summary of Offside
Who is that strange boy sitting quietly in the corner of a bus full of screaming fans going to the football match? In fact, this shy boy is a girl in disguise. She is not alone; women also love football in Iran. Before the game begins, she is arrested at the checkpoint and put into a holding pen by the stadium with a band of other women all dressed up as men. They will be handed over to the vice squad after the match. But before this, they will be tortured -- they must endure every cheer, every shout of a game they cannot see. Worse yet, they must listen to the play-by-play account of a soldier who knows nothing about football. Yet, these young girls just won?t give up. They use every trick in the book to see the match.
Jafar Panahi?s films are often described as Iranian neo-realism. Although all of his films, including Offside, have been banned by Iran, he continues to make movies which explore the very human side of the conflicts in his native country. In the case of Offside, he used a fake name and false papers in order to get permission to shoot at an actual soccer match in Iran. As a result, Offside has a documentary feel which captures the very real humor and determination of the Iranian women ? and men ? who love soccer and are willing to go to extreme lengths for the opportunity to cheer on the home team. The DVD includes an interview with Panahi.
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