Film

Cup Final

Name: Cup Final
Director: Eran Riklis
Released: 1991
Duration: 108 min

Eran Riklis

1991

■■■ ■■■■

Eran Riklis · 1991 · Israel

An Israeli soldier taken hostage by PLO fighters during the 1982 Lebanon War bonds with his captors over shared love of the World Cup.

A rare Israeli film using football fandom to humanize wartime enemies, notable for its era's political sensitivity.

The Historian

This poignant short film captures a fleeting moment of connection amidst conflict. Set against the backdrop of Israel's tumultuous 1982 Lebanon War, "Cup Final" humanizes the enemy through shared passion for the World Cup. Like Jean-Pierre Jeunet's later work, it explores how football can transcend divisions and forge temporary alliances in times of war.

The Psychologist

The Beautiful Archive offers a glimpse into the complexities of belonging through Eran Riklis' Cup Final. The film highlights the way football fandom can transcend national and ideological divides, allowing characters to momentarily forget their differences and connect over shared passion. This phenomenon speaks to the universal human desire for community and shared experience.

The Sceptic

The notion that a shared passion for football can transcend politics and national boundaries seems overly simplistic. Can we truly believe that these soldiers and fighters were able to set aside their roles as oppressors and oppressed in the midst of war? The narrative strains credulity, relying on an unconvincing trope of sports as a universal language.

These are interpretations written in three voices, not quotations from any individual.

Language: Hebrew/Arabic
Length: 108 min
Subject: An Israeli soldier and Palestinian fighters bonding over the 1982 World Cup
Region: Middle East
Tone: Elegiac
Difficulty: Deep

Limited streaming; available via Israeli film archives and some festivals

Limited availability

Sourceen.wikipedia.org

Entries are compiled and edited by hand. If something here is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.

Missed something?

Tell us what belongs here. A title, who made it, and where you found it.

Email the archive

Cup Final

Missed something?

Offside

Football Iranian Style

Iraq's Football Underdogs

Missed something?

Related

Offside

Football Iranian Style

Iraq's Football Underdogs