The Game of Their Lives

Although I am not ordinarily a sports fan, watching this documentary was an exhilarating and bittersweet experience. The success of the North Korean underdogs in the 8th World Cup was exciting to re-live through documentary footage. The working-class English burb they stayed in, Middlesborough, clearly adopted them for their cute underdog status, for they were well-behaved, polite and hardworking soccer players. And, at no taller than 5'5" on average, as one spectator put it, "it was like watching a bunch of jockeys playing."

It is comical that when they are bunked in a Roman Catholic monastery they are creeped out by the garish images of the crucifixion. Also impressive were the shots of 20,000+ N. Korean Citizens doing the most elaborate form of the "The Wave" known to man. The N. Koreans returned as heroes in N. Korea but still lived in a material way that would remind most Americans of poor people.

Team members say they were able to get as far as they did in the competition primarily through emphasis on teamwork and national pride, given their physical limitations against the Europeans. Certainly the most impressive achievements of human civilization have always been accomplished when people are united by some ideology or religion, bound together for a common purpose. It makes one think of the pros and cons of teamwork vs. individualism, free societies vs. communist ones. I was struck by how their atheistic communist ideology taught them to believe that each was responsible for their own destiny, and yet the movie is filled with numerous shots of the team making reverential references to their Great Leader, exactly in the manner in which a religious fundamentalist refers to God or Allah.

A very interesting movie, but it was obvious the team could not speak freely to the cameramen. Their words are laced with modesty and communist rhetoric. Strange how the most ideological and theologically governed societies are often the ones lacking the most in free speech. Unity vs. individualism the pros and cons of both soccer and politics.

The great thing about documentaries is that they teach you things in an enjoyable and entertaining way.

I have almost zero interest in football. I was over 50 before I even went to a football match, and then it was only because the tickets were free and I wanted to support women footballers.

Yet, this documentary, which I caught on broadcast TV in 2002 (over 20 years ago), is one of the documentaries that I have enjoyed most.

What I do know a bit about is North Korea, having spent some time with specialists discussing it. So I do understand that this guy SOMEHOW got unprecedented access to North Korea to document an absolutely life affirming event.

I won't talk too much about the content which others have done. What I will tell you is how it made me feel. I felt great that sport (which, like football, I have limited interest in) is something that can unite us and bring us together. That we can, despite all our political divisions, find something in common. That Brits root for the underdog. That you can see a different perspective on religion and many things we take for granted in our society. And that, after all these years, I still always have something to talk about with any football fanatic who otherwise I might struggle to connect with.

I can't rate this highly enough. 99/10.

In recent times, I guess we're all too familiar with the bad press that North Korea is getting, especially in its nuclear weapons programme. One of the last hardlined communist states left in the world, we often wonder what goes on behind that iron curtain, in its reclusive behaviour that have spawned many questions with little forthcoming answers. And documentaries which offer a sneak peek into what goes on behind that veil of secrecy, would also be cast a doubtful eye whether the filmmakers were gagged from painting a more subjective angle.

Naturally, getting permission to shoot within North Korea isn't easy, and Daniel Gordon and his crew spent more than 3 years obtaining that nod, and for the fact that they were allowed unprecedented bandwidth to capture what they needed for their movie (and I guess the good job they did with this, opened another door for their other North Korean documentary titled A State of Mind). For those interested in the landscape of the state beyond the much publicized mass displays and sabre-rattling military parades, this film offers a wonderful montage of life in the country, with plenty of everyday scenes fused into one sequence that was, in my opinion, too short, as it left you wanting more.

But let's get back to the subject matter, and that's the exploration of what happened to the North Korean football team of 1966, who were very much written off by pundits all over despite their hard work at overcoming Australia in the qualifiers, which stemmed very much from a history left unlearned, just like how the Western forces underestimated the drive and will to win of the Imperial Japanese forces in WWII. The filmmakers had tracked down almost all the surviving members of that team of 66, and one just cannot believe that they're hardly the straight-laced, serious folks that one would expect anyone to become after living under a hard regime all their lives.

The film straddles between the present and the past, allowing each man to recount their moment of glory on a world stage. Everyone had a sense of humour, and this shows during their interviews, being extremely free with their words and candid in their responses, quite contrary to what one would expect, with minders probably being close by nodding in approval at what was mentioned, but it's not the case. In many ways, Dan Gordon's film will open up many eyes, that politics aside, they too are human beings with the same hopes and dreams, with experience to share, and the desire to do so with fellow friends, no matter what political system they live under. And you can't help but to chuckle at how confused these guys were when they finally made that leap into democracies during their tour of duty, which on one hand they're pretty focused on their mission, and on the other in awe at the frenzy happening around them.

This film can also be deemed as a football film in a certain sense, since it had archived a slice of qualifying action for that sole Oceania-Africa-Asian spot in the World Cup finals of 16 teams then. The 1966 World Cup will always be remembered for a few things, and for football fans, this film presents and showcases some of those aspects, in a year where England hoisted its only World Cup trophy to date, and on home soil too. For those who are familiar with footballing legends, then this film offered us a glimpse of the 1965 minted European footballer of the year, and top scorer of the tournament in Portugal's Eusebio. You'll also bear witness to how the rules of the sport had evolved, as back then substitutes were not allowed.

But like most sports too, there's always this deep affinity with the underdogs, and the North Korean team, being the representative of Oceania, Africa and Asia, had its work cut out for them. And probably their success in making up for their lack of technical skills with fitness, speed and energy to chase down every ball, though lacking accuracy up front to make it count for something. Their "Chollima" mindset and swelling of pride not to let their fatherland down, that never-say-die attitude, could have also endeared the team to many fans in Britain, especially the Middlesbrough folks who have adopted the team as their own. And the never-ending debate on teamwork versus individual flair cannot be more keenly defined when witnessing how through teamwork the North Koreans have overcome opponents, though thanks to the Portuguese's Eusebio he had single handedly, through conscious body-language., turned the tide in a riveting match that the filmmakers had managed to condense into a tense finish.

The film also tries to insert statements whenever it can on how the role of sports can be used to promote harmony and goodwill, in building bridges and strengthening ties, and cutting through politics and the sore memories of war, between those who were fighting on opposite sides a decade ago. But I guess the true value here is that peek behind the iron curtain, and for footballing fans, an extremely well made documentary that brings a blast from the past in one of the World Cup's defining moments.

In 1966 England won the 8th World Cup in England but that is not the only story. As a result of only one place being allocated to Africa, Asia and the Pacific region, all but two countries boycotted and withdrew their teams, leaving North Korea and Australia. Having been on opposite side of the war, neither recognised each other so the game was played in Cambodia. Not giving them a chance in hell, Australia (and the world) are shocked to be knocked about 6-1 and North Korea book their tickets to England – a political problem since England did not recognise the state of North Korea. After much Foreign Office horse-trading, the team arrives and is drawn into the same group and Italy, the Soviet Union and Chile. With nobody giving them a chance and a 3-0 loss and 1-1 draw behind them, the North Koreans must beat Italy to deliver their Great Leader's request of 'one or two wins' and pull off a historic upset.

I decided to watch this documentary because it was mere days to go until Euro 2004 kicked off and I was in the mood for football stories, however this wonderful film gave me so much more than just that. For most of my generation 1966 only means one thing – England winning, I suspect very few not alive at the time know of the North Korean team that went along. For most of us the words 'upset' and Korea' will only bring to mind the wonderful run South Korea had in 2002's World Cup (knocking out Italy as it happens!) but this story is just as exciting. In terms of football the film is very interesting, not only in terms of the story but also in giving an insight into football of almost 40 years ago. Can you imagine a world cup being held in Middlesborough today? Not very glamorous is it! Certainly the idea of any team training on the grounds of a factory in Northern England (as Korea did) is unthinkable now – seeing the luxury England are living in in Portugal right now is further contrast. The style of football is also a lot less technical and I was surprised how many goals seemed to be scored by individual runs and then a shot.

Anyway, everyone loves the underdog and this film shows the underdog being supported by the English fans and pulling off the biggest shocks of the 1966 World Cup by sending Italy home and going 3-0 up in 20 minutes against Portugal. It is fascinating to see the players then – so full of fight and ignoring the odds, playing with the sort of spirit that we all wish our domestic sides could muster. To hear them talk as old men just makes the matches even more interesting as they recall their thoughts and feelings – I suspect few of us will not be envious of a keeper who considers his net to be the reputation of his country and would rather die than let Italy score in it. As a sports film it is really interesting and was the first time I had heard the story told, however this film is much more than that.

As we all know North Korea is a mystery – a few months ago a massive explosion may have killed 100's over a large area but I still don't know more than that and little information ever came out regarding it. We all know the stories of human rights violations and their nuclear programme and this film just makes the place an even bigger mystery by showing a side of the people and the country that is appealing and mystifying at the same time. We hear these stories but yet I watched these old men stand at the foot of the Great Leader's statute and weep as they wished he could be there with them. Likewise many talk of great affection of meeting him and it is clear that they wanted nothing more than winning at least one game for him and their beloved country. It is fascinating because the makers got quite unique access into the country and present us with people's honest opinion – they may be lying for fear of state retaliation but I could only see genuine sorrow in their tears as they talked of their Leader's death. Like I said, it is mystifying but it is a very interesting look into the country through the eyes of the football team.

Overall this is a great film if you like football stories but also if you are interested in North Korea. I came for the football but the other layers (Korea, a picture of England & football 40 years ago etc) all engaged me really easily. The story of the World Cup is great fun and the wider stuff about North Korea is fascinating and frustratingly confusing (but in a good way). The end result is a disarmingly charming documentary that surprised me by just how interesting, layered and fascinated it turned out to be – just like the team themselves, my expectations were exceeded.

Daniel Gordon's documentary about the North Korean soccer team who went to England to play in soccer's 1966 World Cup finals is intensely moving, and the filmmakers were given unprecedented access to North Korea, where they interviewed the men who were on North Korea's team. I'm not a soccer fan at all, but it doesn't matter, the film deals with the common humanity of the North Korean players and their British hosts, who were able to put the Cold War aside (at its height in 1966), and just focus on their love of the sport. You can't help rooting for the North Korean team! The shots of Pyongyang after the war in 1953, in 1966 during the soccer finals, and in 2002 are fascinating, especially shots of child musicians, and the mass rallies at the stadiums. With all of the propaganda we hear in the US about how terrible the North Koreans are, in this film they are warm and friendly, and surprise! they have a great sense of humor. One of the best documentaries I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. 10 out of 10.