Offside

Callum:  Hello, I'm Callum Robertson and this is Entertainment. In today's programmewe focus on the language of talking about films. As it's World Cup time, we'regoing to be looking at reviews of a new film based on a World Cupqualification match.
　　The film is called Offside and is by Iranian director Jafar Panahi.
　　The film is about a group of women football fans in Iran who want to go andwatch a World Cup qualification match between their country, Iran andBahrain. However, because in Iran women are not allowed to attend malesporting events they have to try different ways of getting into the stadium.
　　They try different disguises 1 but are stopped from seeing the match by soldierswho keep them in a room where they can hear, but not see the match.
　　The film is not in the English language it doesn't have any big internationalstars and there aren't explosions 2 and special effects. It is not typical of thesummer blockbusters from Hollywood and maybe because of this it has provedto be quite popular with the critics and the public.
　　Mark Kermode is one of the BBC's film reviewers, he isn't a football fan but hedid like the film, this is what he said about it.
　　Mark KermodeIt's really terrific 3. Number of lovely things about it. The first thing is, is that it's reallygenuinely gentle but in a melancholic 5 and insightful 6 way.
　　Callum:  He says it's terrific, he thinks it's really good and there are some lovely thingsabout it. He comments that the film is gentle – which means that it's an easyfilm to watch, there aren't strong and angry conflicts. He also says it has amelancholic feel, it's slightly sad and is also insightful – it shows a goodunderstanding of the situation.
　　He also says that even though he isn't a football fan he still enjoyed the film. Infact he says that he doesn't 'get' football – he doesn't get it – this means that hedoesn't understand it, he doesn't know why it is so popular or makes people feelthe way they do. Does watching this film help him to understand this at all?
　　Here's Mark Kermode again.
　　Mark KermodeThe reason I like it is as somebody who genuinely 4 hasn't had any interest in football, doesn'tget football, I've never got it, I've never got the kind of national enthusiasm 7 for it, I've nevergot why it is that people get so excited. Watching Offside I actually felt that I understood atleast a little bit more what that was about because what he does brilliantly as a director is toshow you that sense of wanting to be part of this kind of collective 8 event which is a force forgood.
　　Callum:  So yes. He said that watching the film helped him to understand what it is liketo be a football fan, what it is like to want to want to be involved in a groupevent which he describes as a force for good.
　　Those were the views of the critic, the reviewer, but what about others whohave seen the film for their own entertainment. What do they think? Here are afew opinions – how do people describe the film and their reaction to it.
　　VOICESI thought it was one of the best films I'd seen in ages. I really really enjoyed itOh I really enjoyed it, I thought it was funny, endearing and yet it made a really serious point.
　　I thought the film was excellent. I like Iranian films and this particular film was interestingbecause it was quite a heavy subject but there were funny bits. So even though you mightthink 'oh this is a very difficult subject to talk about in a film', it approached it in a very lighthearted and a gentle way.
　　Callum:  Some very positive views there. The first speaker commented that it was thebest film he'd seen in ages – the best film in a long time. It was also describedas funny and endearing – endearing means charming 9 and very likeable. Thisview was echoed 10 by the third speaker who commented that even though it wasa heavy subject – a serious and difficult topic – it was done in a light-heartedand gentle way. Light-hearted is a useful adjective 11 to describe films which arefunny.
　　That's all from this edition of entertainment. Before we go, some finalrecommendations for the film offside.
　　VOICESI'd recommend this film to absolutely anybody.
　　Yes I would recommend this film. You certainly don't have to be a football fan to enjoy it andif you like watching films from different countries around the world this is a really good oneto start with. I would recommend this film to everybody especially this time when the footballfans are going around the world, having a great time.