Whilst I would not recommend this film to many people I still feel that what it has to offer on a purely technical level is more than many, many films out there.
Let's start with the cinematography. In charge of the look is Darius Khondji, a DOP who I feel ranks as one of the greatest of all time. His painstaking attention to detail and often uncompromising perfectionism heightened my curiosity with this film because he would have had no control over the lighting. Which is a challenge for someone who usually has every lighting rig available at his disposal. His choices were limited to equipment and film stock, as well as the angles chosen to focus on Zidane. The result is beautiful. The colours, the framing, the movement. It is impeccable and compliments the concept of the film perfectly.
Then there is the sound and music. To say this is an immersive experience is an understatement. The diegetic sound and Foley work is so vivid that you feel part of the action. It is as close to being in a stadium such as the Bernabeu without actually being there. You hear Zidane every now and again ask for the ball, call a player, mention something to the referee. And as Zidane is so quiet, when he does utter a word for some reason you are compelled. When the ref makes a howler of a decision to give the opposition a penalty he eloquently says; "You should be ashamed." It's a wonderful moment, and it is these few seconds of drama that are sprinkled throughout the 90 minutes that keep you watching.
Mogwai's score is as beautiful as everyone has said, supporting the images and saving periods of the game where little is happening.
But the centrepiece is Zidane himself. I was born in 1983 so never got to watch Platini, Pele, Best or Cruijff. I would not dare call anyone the greatest player of all time because it is such a subjective and immeasurable claim to make. But having watched football for so long, I would have no hesitation in regarding Zidane as the greatest player I have ever seen. His vision, skill, control, strength. No player of his generation has ever come close to him. I have never seen someone so relaxed on the ball. He could beat any player, and more to the point would see passes no one else on the pitch would see. And when you consider his achievements, the World Cups, the goals (in World Cup and CHampions League finals) the infamous dismissals. Hell, he has seen and done it all.
So in this game, even at the end of his playing career, he is still beating players, setting up goals, and not once did he miscontrol the ball. Which is astounding. Every ball played to him, along on the ground or in the air, whether it was perfectly weighted or dished out to him too hard and a few yards away was controlled with such deftness. I couldn't actually believe it at times.
A number of Real Madrid players were under immense scrutiny during this period in the club's history. The Galacticos (Carlos, Beckham, Raul, Ronaldo and Zidane) were not winning any trophies and the press were quick to point out their waning powers. The performances were lacklustre and many questioned their passion having won all there is to win in football. Yet in this performance all I saw was Zidane running constantly, challenging for headers, being incredibly disciplined with his tackles and positioning, ordering players to mark, constantly asking for the ball. He may not have had the pace to beat players like he once did at Juventus and his early Madrid days, but when there was space to exploit he took the opportunity.
I agree there are dull moments, but it is the nature of the beast. I think it speaks wonders that in a relatively low profile game with average passages of football Zidane can still keep you intrigued. From the way he drags the tip of his right foot along the ground as he walks to the way he looks around for other players he remains compelling viewing. There are few, if any other players who could have achieved this.
The highlight for me came towards the end of the game. For well over an hour you saw the same stern, emotionless face on Zidane. He barely reacted to being fouled, or conceding a goal, setting up a goal. But then Roberto Carlos smiled at him and made a joke that made Zidane's face light up with such a beautiful smile. It is the most endearing moment in the film that could only be captured off the wall. It is so natural and revealing that it endears you. It is a lesson to all footballers. No matter what the stakes are in football the most important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself. It is just a game after all. And with this portrait of a magician, you realise just how beautiful it can be.
Let's start with the cinematography. In charge of the look is Darius Khondji, a DOP who I feel ranks as one of the greatest of all time. His painstaking attention to detail and often uncompromising perfectionism heightened my curiosity with this film because he would have had no control over the lighting. Which is a challenge for someone who usually has every lighting rig available at his disposal. His choices were limited to equipment and film stock, as well as the angles chosen to focus on Zidane. The result is beautiful. The colours, the framing, the movement. It is impeccable and compliments the concept of the film perfectly.
Then there is the sound and music. To say this is an immersive experience is an understatement. The diegetic sound and Foley work is so vivid that you feel part of the action. It is as close to being in a stadium such as the Bernabeu without actually being there. You hear Zidane every now and again ask for the ball, call a player, mention something to the referee. And as Zidane is so quiet, when he does utter a word for some reason you are compelled. When the ref makes a howler of a decision to give the opposition a penalty he eloquently says; "You should be ashamed." It's a wonderful moment, and it is these few seconds of drama that are sprinkled throughout the 90 minutes that keep you watching.
Mogwai's score is as beautiful as everyone has said, supporting the images and saving periods of the game where little is happening.
But the centrepiece is Zidane himself. I was born in 1983 so never got to watch Platini, Pele, Best or Cruijff. I would not dare call anyone the greatest player of all time because it is such a subjective and immeasurable claim to make. But having watched football for so long, I would have no hesitation in regarding Zidane as the greatest player I have ever seen. His vision, skill, control, strength. No player of his generation has ever come close to him. I have never seen someone so relaxed on the ball. He could beat any player, and more to the point would see passes no one else on the pitch would see. And when you consider his achievements, the World Cups, the goals (in World Cup and CHampions League finals) the infamous dismissals. Hell, he has seen and done it all.
So in this game, even at the end of his playing career, he is still beating players, setting up goals, and not once did he miscontrol the ball. Which is astounding. Every ball played to him, along on the ground or in the air, whether it was perfectly weighted or dished out to him too hard and a few yards away was controlled with such deftness. I couldn't actually believe it at times.
A number of Real Madrid players were under immense scrutiny during this period in the club's history. The Galacticos (Carlos, Beckham, Raul, Ronaldo and Zidane) were not winning any trophies and the press were quick to point out their waning powers. The performances were lacklustre and many questioned their passion having won all there is to win in football. Yet in this performance all I saw was Zidane running constantly, challenging for headers, being incredibly disciplined with his tackles and positioning, ordering players to mark, constantly asking for the ball. He may not have had the pace to beat players like he once did at Juventus and his early Madrid days, but when there was space to exploit he took the opportunity.
I agree there are dull moments, but it is the nature of the beast. I think it speaks wonders that in a relatively low profile game with average passages of football Zidane can still keep you intrigued. From the way he drags the tip of his right foot along the ground as he walks to the way he looks around for other players he remains compelling viewing. There are few, if any other players who could have achieved this.
The highlight for me came towards the end of the game. For well over an hour you saw the same stern, emotionless face on Zidane. He barely reacted to being fouled, or conceding a goal, setting up a goal. But then Roberto Carlos smiled at him and made a joke that made Zidane's face light up with such a beautiful smile. It is the most endearing moment in the film that could only be captured off the wall. It is so natural and revealing that it endears you. It is a lesson to all footballers. No matter what the stakes are in football the most important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself. It is just a game after all. And with this portrait of a magician, you realise just how beautiful it can be.