Offside November 29, 2007

"A cross between socially conscious cinema and the irrepressible Bend It Like Beckham, Offside is a charming, character-driven film that conveys enormous feeling for its characters."—Los Angeles Times

An exuberant, gentle comedy by one of the world's leading filmmakers, Offside offers a realistic but entertaining glimpse into the lives of young women in Iran, where females are prohibited by law from entering public soccer matches. The simple but sophisticated story centers on a group of teenaged girls so soccer-crazy that they dress up as men and sneak into a stadium in order to see their team play in a World Cup match. It's shot almost like a documentary during a real soccer match, and the energy of the event makes the action especially exciting and gripping. Some of the girls don't make it past security, and their defiant butting up against the naïve stubbornness of the guards results in humorous dialogues and absurd events leading to an unexpected and hopeful close. (93 mins., 35mm)

This film is rated PG for language throughout and some thematic elements more suitable for teen and adult audiences. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Official Website: http://www.wexarts.org/fv/index.php?eventid=2543