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Bookmark this pageFootball Days (2003)
Movie review
From Time Out London
Inspired by prison therapy that has helped him control his violent temper, newly released Antonio (Ernesto Alterio) decides to become a psychologist. The first beneficiaries of his threatening approach to counselling are his five friends, a bunch of ineffectual thirtysomethings who include mummy’s boy Gonzalo, policeman and wannabe musician Miguel and Jorge, who’s been dumped by Antonio’s sister Violeta. To help Jorge, Antonio suggests they all join a seven-a-side football league. Serrano’s men-undergoing-midlife-crises comedy has already proved popular in Spain. It’s broad stuff, but not without charm, though the characters’ on-pitch tribulations fail to give the film the solid focus the title would suggest. However, the ragbag of plot strands – which takes in training piglets, venereal disease and public fellatio – is bolstered by some laugh-out-loud slapstick moments and a healthy dose of cruelty that helps stave off sentimentality.Author: NF
Time Out London Issue 1825: August 10-17, 2005
Cast & crew
Producer: Tomás Cimadevilla
Cast: Ernesto Alterio, Alberto Sanjuan, Natalia Verbeke, María Esteve, Fernando Tejero, Roberto Álamo, Secun de la Rosa, Pere Ponce, Nathalie Poza, Luis Bermejo, Lola Dueñas, Pilar Castro, Diego Martín, Eva Santolaria, Pepo Oliva full cast
Duration: 118 mins
UK Release: Aug 12 2005
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