Directed by Ayat Najafi and David Assmann • Documentary • 2008 • 86 minutes
The members of the Iranian women's international football (soccer) team possess a dedication to the sport rivaling that of any other group of players in the world. What they lack, however, is a team to play against. When Marlene, the left-back of a Berlin amateur club, learns of their situation, she becomes determined to do something about it and hatches a plan to travel with her team to Tehran for a friendly match.
On a preliminary trip to the country, Marlene meets Niloofar, a member of the Iranian women’s team, who dreams of David Beckham and struggles as a female athlete living under the country’s repressive regime. Despite all the cultural differences, they share a love of football and an unwavering determination to make the match happen even without official support. After a year of failed attempts, Marlene’s team travels to Tehran to play the game of their lives.
Up Next in The World Cup
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Hopefuls
Directed by Ives Rosenfeld • Drama • With Ariclenes Barroso, Sérgio Malheiros • 2015 • 74 minutes
“Hopefuls” tells the story of Junior, a young player for Bacaxa A.C, an amateur football team from the city of Saquarema, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. He has to deal with the unexpected pre...
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A Game of Three Halves - Episode 1
Directed by Matthew Bate • Animation • 2021 • 4 minutes
Sports journalist, podcaster and week-end player Max Rushden, hilariously ruminates on the frustrastions, disasters and joys of spending his weekends organising and playing amateur Sunday league football. From surviving apocalyptic microcli...
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A Game of Three Halves - Episode 2
Directed by Matthew Bate • Animation • 2021 • 5 minutes
In Iran we go undercover with soccer superfan Sara, who has never been allowed to see an actual game since the government banned women from going to stadiums in 1981. But Sara is no ordinary fan, she has been a leader in a female led activi...
