ryuakamrvengeance

Firstly, I cannot stand films that openly use hand-held "documentary" style cameras, they look terrible, shake and lose focus all the time. I generally want my films to look like films NOT like documentaries, and the supposed theory that hand held camera work makes things look more real is just not true, in fact it works towards the opposite. Shaky camera work and poor focus exemplify the fact that it is a film.

The film itself is fairly poor, and tries to demonstrate ideas of "non-conformity" by promoting the "inner-idiot", and it simply doesn't work. I find it ironic that this film preaches that social constructs are wrong when the character Stoffer creates one himself by enforcing the world of the "idiot". It seems to me that this film has set out to be controversial for the sake of being controversial, and really just ends up looking tasteless and grotesque.

Also, Lars Von Trier, who helped come up with the Dogma 95 movement breaks his own "vow of chastity" in a number of ways, proving that he is "the idiot". Don't waste your time on this trash

Let me start of by saying this isn't a film for people who don't appreciate football. If you don't like football, then this film isn't for you. Yes, it is also an art film with exceptional cinematography, but to fully understand the nature of the film, and the nature and grace of Zinedine Zidane you must at least have some interest in football.

To many, including myself, Zinedine Zidane is the nearest specimen to a perfect footballer ever seen. He has everything needed to play the beautiful game; grace, intelligence, imagination and technique. So a film about the greatest footballer of modern times couldn't go by my unnoticed. The film is far from conventional, and at times completely hypnotic, as Zidane says himself, his memories of matches are fragmented and this could easily apply to this film. It is like a mirage of images, like watching a dream. Although clips of the match on TV keep it within reality, the numerous shots of "Zizou" on the pitch are completely surreal.

To understand this film beyond its cinematography, you must, as I said appreciate football. The subtle touches of the ball; the interaction with his fellow teammates, Raul, Roberto Carlos; the very way he moves around the field could not be significant unless you understand the very nature of Zidane. The film captures the intimate moments of despair and victory and of Zidanes very thoughts. The world and mind of Zidane is brought to the viewer in an empathetic way not seen in most films. For the ninety minutes or so, we shadow Zidane, we are even Zidane.

But despite all this, the film is significantly flawed. I am probably not the first to say at times you feel completely bored, and are tired of Zidane just walking around. You feel this might have been a good idea if they hadn't of chose to show ALL 90 minutes. But they do, and at times it is completely tedious. You eventually ask yourself if you are watching the same clips on a loop, the shots are so repetitive. Granted the "second half" is a lot better, as it is eventful and Zidane comes to life for better and for worse. Though you can't help feel you just wasted 90 minutes of your life.

As a fanatic follower of football, this film just about keeps me interested, so God help anyone who wants to watch this AND is not interested in football.