Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006)
A squillion synchronised cameras all trained on Zinedine Zidane – what’s not to like?!
The directors, Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, I think, are attempting to address the awkward question of Football as Art? And they certainly put Football in its best clothes. But suitably lo-fi soundtracks (provided by purveyors of the craft Mogwai) and quasi-gonzo camera work do not art make. Just ‘cus it looks and feels like art, you shouldn’t always be fooled. The production may be new to the football, but it’s an old trick art has been playing for a while. Having said that it’s also hard to argue that this isn’t a successfully realised piece of cinema.
I believe an artist (who creates art) is someone who brings something in to the world that wasn’t there before. Then, Zidane is artist. In beautifully crafting a new perspective from which to view something that we’re so familiar with, there is definitely an argument to cast the film-makers as artist too. (There’s a football as art thing, in relation to this film, I wrote here)
The wild (almost other-worldly) look in Zidane’s eyes (captured in extreme close-up) could curdle milk, so be mindful not to watch with a cup of tea. It is eerily compelling and curiously emotive.
It beats Sky Player-Cam hands down.
p.s Look out for cameos from Real Madrid Beckham and Real Madrid Owen (Lol).
