Not joking either, I watched Norwegian TV drama 'Heimbane' around the same time as the FIFA 2018 World Cup and grew to love the series. Why aren't there more female coaches in football? Thinking about it as a fan of the game, I'm struggling to find any rational explanation?!? Ane Dahl Torp plays Helena Mikkelsen the head coach of newly promoted Varg FC (fictionalized, but most of the action is set among the fjordic landscape of Ulsteinvik in the west of the country) and really makes the part her own (particularly love all the little obsessive 'ticks' and character traits she's built into the role). The football during the series is done pretty well (which certainly makes a welcome change!), but not overdone, most of the attention is on the personal and professional lives of the characters. I wouldn't know a 'known' from an 'unknown' in Norwegian drama, but enjoyed Axel Bøyum's performance as the young football prodigy emerging from the shadow of his father, Emma Bones as Mikkelsen's supportive teenage daughter Camilla, sympathetic in the role, and former professional John Carew as Michael Engersen draws attention to the problems players often face in the twilight of their careers. Finally, Rolf Kristian Larsen gives a solid performance as Eivind, Mikkelsen's embattled boss standing up for her in the chauvinistic boardroom. There's lots going on here and a a few surprises along the way to keeps things interesting. The whole thing could easily have gone pear-shaped, but 'Heimebane' succeeds because it's a drama more about the human condition than 'The Beautiful Game'. Looking forward to another season.
