O Defensor - A História de Bert Trautmann

Anglo-German production, TV-movie(ish); two-dimensional fare. But the amazing story and a dollop of charm, makes this a hell of a lot better than it should be.

This is a straightforward historical romance. But it's well played by Kross as Trautmann, and Mavor as his wife Margaret. And Henshaw gives a typically excellent performance as plain-speaking, Northern dad.

It should be terrible, but it's a really watchable film, and a very good football film to boot. The CGI recreation of 1950's football stadiums is amazing. It takes dramatic licence, but still brings home the Cup.

A truly heartwarming story of reconciliation and the human condition. I watched this film in the Cinema in St. Helens. A town that is close to my heart and that features in Bert Trautmann's story before his time playing for Manchester City.

This movie is about so much more than football. I'm largely disinterested in the beautiful game but even I was bowled over by the brilliant humour and heartwarming story of redemption and reconciliation.

Watch this movie, tell your friends about it and talk about it. It deserves to be seen both on its own merit and as one of the few films to represent working class northerners in a human light, displaying their unique sense of humour and kindness as well as dealing with the emotional fallout of war in a mature way.

It was an absolutely wonderful film, a brilliant story about a tremendous soul who helped to bring people together. Who didn't seem to have a nasty bone in his body and who just seemed to personify dignity and grace, in addition to being a tremendous athlete. The performances by David Cross and John Henshaw were astonishing. Great ensemble cast, wonderful direction, just a really outstanding production

One of the most enjoyable films of the year, whether or not you like football. Really good story, solidly told. Yet another film not getting the publicity or wide release it deserves.

My dad was in the POW camp with Bert and married a local girl (my mum) from Liverpool! I knew they'd had a hard time because my dad was seen as the enemy and my mum as a traitor, but this film is so beautifully told and it brought it home to me! It's both funny and deeply emotional, but most of all it's about reconciliation and acceptance! Obviously there's a little poetic license, but that adds to the film! It had me in tears, Highly recommended!