The Game of Their Lives
This is the first film to have official access to ordinary North Korean citizens.
The Game of Their Lives is more than a football film. It is a tale of struggle and success, the beauty of sport crossing cultural barriers. It is the story of how an unfancied team from a Communist country arrives in England at the height of the Cold War and is not only adopted by the local townspeople of Middlesbrough but also ends up winning the hearts of the whole country.
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Introduction
The Game of Their Lives is more than a football film. It is a tale of struggle and success, the beauty of sport crossing cultural barriers. It is the story of how an unfancied team from a Communist country arrives in England at the height of the Cold War and is not only adopted by the local townspeople of Middlesbrough but also ends up winning the hearts of the whole country.
Synopsis
The North Korean team of 1966, a thousand to one outsiders, performed miracles at the 8th World Cup in England. On arrival in London, they were labelled the enigma, foreign in every aspect of their make-up. For a brief period they would become the darlings of the nation, their exploits the stuff of legend. Yet once their adventure was over, the plane taking them home might as well have been flying them to the moon. Today, almost as little is known of the players and their country as was the case in 1966.
Having created the greatest shock in world cup history by sensationally knocking out one of the tournament favourites, Italy, North Korea became the first Asian team to make it to the quarter finals. On their return to Genoa the Italians, some of the finest and wealthiest footballers on the planet, were pelted with rotten tomatoes.
The Koreans were 3-0 up in their quarter final match against Portugal before the magical Eusebio intervened and won the game for the Portuguese 5-3. For years, rumours have persisted particularly in South Korea that North Korea’s World Cup heroes had been sent to labour camps on their return from England and remain in dishonour. Until now, no-one has been given permission to enter North Korea to interview the players about their experiences at the 8th World Cup.
About The Documentary
This is the first film to have official access to ordinary North Korean citizens. In the film, the North Korean players speak openly about their memories of 1966, the rebuilding of Korea after the devastating Korean War, and of their lives today, in one of the least known about societies of the modern era. This is the first time that a western audience has seen ordinary North Koreans speak about themselves and their exploits
THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES also shows never before seen archival footage, filmed by the North Koreans in England in 1966.
Technical Information:
Title:
THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES
2002
E Pictures presents
a VeryMuchSo production
in association with:
Passion Pictures and the BBC
Language:
English & Korean
Subtitles:
English & Korean
Running Time:
81 Min
Colour Mode:
Colour
Region Mode:
Multi-Region (DVD)
Director / Producer:
Daniel Gordon (BAFTA nominated)
Associate Producer:
Nicholas Bonner (Koryo Studio)
Editor:
Justine Wright
Executive Producer:
John Battsek
Cameras:
Nick Bennett & Daryl Kibblewhite
Sound:
James Baker
Production managers:
Alison Ollivent & Fiona O’Doherty
Production Coordinator:
Jessica Ludgrove
Made with the co-operation of the DPRK Korea Film Export
and Import Company and Korea International Travel Company
