Zidane: The Movie

[Dyvel]

I have no idea what to make of this. I may even go see it just out of curiosity.

Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=658)

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[Garcia]

I hear that it will have several alternate endings.

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[Dante]

I saw it last year, here's a review I wrote on it back in February of last year...

Let me preface this by saying that I’m a HUGE fan of Zinedine Zidane. He is probably my favorite player of all time, in any sport. When he was at Juventus it was amazing, he moved on and I followed him to Real Madrid. I never became a fan of Real, but I’ve watched a lot of their games just to see Zidane play. I’m such a fan I gave my son the middle names Zinedine Zidane, so yeah it’s safe to say I’m a big fan of his. When I heard of this documentary about Zidane I had to get a copy of it. Finally was able to so I sat down and finally got to watch it.

WOW, and unfortunately that’s not in a good way. Zidane A 21st Century Portrait premiered at Cannes last year and is a documentary filmed from Zidane’s perspective during the Real Madrid vs. Villareal game on April 23, 2005. The movie was filmed in real time using 17 synchronized cameras and some say ends up “Halfway between a sports documentary and a conceptual art installation.” My take, it was a HUGE disappointment. The entire hour and a half is footage from the game and nothing else. If I wanted to watch this I could have tuned into a Real Madrid game. Granted some of the scenes of him in action were nice to see, but it’s nothing that worth writing home about. We get little instances of subtitles telling us what’s supposedly in Zidane’s mind during a game, but that’s it. We never see what really makes him tick, why he looses his cool more than he should.

This documentary was sorely disappointing and unfortunately I could never recommend it to anyone.

[royalstilton]

I saw it last year, here's a review I wrote on it back in February of last year...

Let me preface this by saying that I’m a HUGE fan of Zinedine Zidane. He is probably my favorite player of all time, in any sport. When he was at Juventus it was amazing, he moved on and I followed him to Real Madrid. I never became a fan of Real, but I’ve watched a lot of their games just to see Zidane play. I’m such a fan I gave my son the middle names Zinedine Zidane, so yeah it’s safe to say I’m a big fan of his. When I heard of this documentary about Zidane I had to get a copy of it. Finally was able to so I sat down and finally got to watch it.

WOW, and unfortunately that’s not in a good way. Zidane A 21st Century Portrait premiered at Cannes last year and is a documentary filmed from Zidane’s perspective during the Real Madrid vs. Villareal game on April 23, 2005. The movie was filmed in real time using 17 synchronized cameras and some say ends up “Halfway between a sports documentary and a conceptual art installation.” My take, it was a HUGE disappointment. The entire hour and a half is footage from the game and nothing else. If I wanted to watch this I could have tuned into a Real Madrid game. Granted some of the scenes of him in action were nice to see, but it’s nothing that worth writing home about. We get little instances of subtitles telling us what’s supposedly in Zidane’s mind during a game, but that’s it. We never see what really makes him tick, why he looses his cool more than he should.

This documentary was sorely disappointing and unfortunately I could never recommend it to anyone.
Here is the ESPNsoccernet story on that game, which featured 3 red cards.

MADRID, April 23 (Primera Liga) - Full-back Michel Salgado was the unlikely hero as nine-man Real Madrid came back from a goal down to snatch a vital win that keeps them in the race for the Primera Liga title.

Salgado side-footed home from 12 yards to give Madrid all three points after it was beginning to look if they would never score against the well-disciplined Villarreal.

The visitors had taken the lead thanks to a 38th-minute Juan Roman Riquelme penalty and had looked good value for their lead after the first 45 minutes before Ronaldo equalised with 20 minutes to go.

Real defender Walter Samuel was then sent off before Salgado scored what proved to be the decider.

In stoppage time Real playmaker Zinedine Zidane and Villarreal's Quique Alvarez were also banished by referee Bernardino Gonzalez Vazquez.

The visitors will still be wondering how Riquelme and Diego Forlan contrived to miss a chance that would have put them two ahead as they bore down unopposed on Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas just before the hour.

That was the turning point and nine minutes later Madrid, who were inspired by a dynamic David Beckham all night, levelled the scores.

Ronaldo headed home from close range following a brilliant run from Zidane who was being recorded by 14 cameras as part of a film about him.

The first half was a tense affair with neither side able to make progress in midfield although Riquelme was looking to lead all of the visitors' attacks.

Beckham was working hard back on the right of midfield, but the most notable moment in the first half-hour was when he slipped taking a free-kick to slice the ball high into the crowd.

He should have scored after 31 minutes after taking a return pass from Ronaldo.

Twelve yards out Beckham steadied himself, picked his spot and drove the ball inches wide.

That proved to be a costly miss as after 38 minutes Francisco Pavon was penalised for bringing down Forlan in the area and Riquelme buried the resultant spot-kick.

The second half saw Madrid increase the intensity of their play, with Beckham once again their driving force, although Villarreal never renounced the chance to hit them on the break.

However Riquelme and Forlan's miss seemed a symbolic turning point.

Two minutes later Michael Owen saw a shot saved and Beckham was inches away from setting up Raul with a smart header.

There were nerves in the Bernabeu but they were eased when Zidane's moment of magic helped Ronaldo level the scores.

Madrid's joy looked as if it would be short-lived when Argentinian defender Samuel was dismissed for a second booking two minutes later, but after 74 minutes Salgado scored a rare goal.

Villarreal never looked as if they would get back but Madrid suffered a late setback as Zidane was sent off following a scuffle late in injury time.