Centre Forward
The country’s first football film originally made in 1978, now rereleased and remastered by Koryo Studio.
Fascinating both as an example of North Korean filmmaking and a strong story of overcoming athletic adversity, Centre Forward is at once inspirational, dramatic, amusing, and educational. Even better, by showing the sport’s importance in societies very different from our own, this illustrates the truly universal appeal of the ‘beautiful game’.
Read more about the film here
Synopsis
Footballer In Son is about to make the leap from benchwarmer to key player of Taesongan FC, but his poor performance in a crucial match erodes the confidence of teammates, club managers and In Son himself. The path to success is unclear; however, inspiration from an unlikely source as well as the coach’s political words of encouragement galvanise the players into tackling the physical, mental, and spiritual efforts they need to regain their winning form.
Enduring pain and self-doubt, In Son develops from headstrong apprentice into role model. His team faces a great challenge, but is all their training enough to win the match and to gain back the respect of their somewhat fickle fans? Will In Son cement his position as the team’s talismanic centre forward?
Produced in 1978, this North Korean football-themed movie contains elements universal to all sports movies but also retains a distinct local flavour. Unique North Korean cultural aspects infuse relationships between players and management, family members, and senior and junior players. Fascinating both as an example of North Korean filmmaking and a strong story of overcoming athletic adversity, Centre Forward is at once inspirational, dramatic, amusing, and educational. This foreign re-release coincides with North Korea’s qualification for only their second ever football World Cup. Even better, by showing the sport’s importance in societies very different from our own, this illustrates the truly universal appeal of the ‘beautiful game’
Technical Infomation
Title:
CENTRE FORWARD
Original Title:
중앙공격수
1978
Language:
Korean
Subtitles:
English
Running Time:
75 Min
Colour Mode:
Black & White
Region Mode:
Multi-Region (DVD)
Script:
Sol Ju Yong
Directors:
Pak Chang Song, Kim Kil In
Photography:
Pak Son Gyu
Main Cast:
Cha In Son, Kim Chol, Pak Tae Su (Coach), Ham Chol, Gyu Choi Chang
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Watch the trailer for Centre Forward