such a powerful way to critique how unfairly iran treat its women. jafar pahani expresses that anger through a lens many of us can understand: sports. when your country is about to qualify for the world cup, how could you not put out all the stops to witness a historic moment? how could you deny your own countrymen the opportunity to witness this and show support for your own country?
through grounded, realistic performances and dialogue, offside puts you outside the stadium as well. an overwhelming sea of people surround you, green, red, and white cover your view. chants, screaming, and excitement flood your ears. there’s so much energy in the stadium that the moment you realize the girls you’re following can’t watch, you feel just as deflated as them. you can hear the crowd screaming, you can feel the ground shake, and for some reason, you’re denied the opportunity to be a part of this. and for what?
the dialogue brilliantly highlights the hypocrisy and self-contradicting logic of iran’s authority. the more the soldiers are pressed, the more unsure they are of what they’re actually doing. but orders are orders, and they have no choice. despite this, i love how much jafar panahi humanizes the soldiers — ultimately they are criticized for what they’re doing, but we also highlight how tied their hands are as well. they’re farmers, they’re football fans, and they are conscripted to be soldiers. if they don’t comply, they’re punished as well.
and throughout the depth offside has, it is also entertaining and hilarious. the spirited, defiant performances of the women in the movie is inspiring, and we root for them all the way. so much to praise about offside in many aspects, but the biggest thing i love about it is its humanity. the joy and energy of sports is translated in such a tangible way here, and just like in real life, sports sometimes lets us escape the horrors of real life, giving us something to live for.
such a powerful way to critique how unfairly iran treat its women. jafar pahani expresses that anger through a lens many of us can understand: sports. when your country is about to qualify for the world cup, how could you not put out all the stops to witness a historic moment? how could you deny your own countrymen the opportunity to witness this and show support for your own country?
through grounded, realistic performances and dialogue, offside puts you outside the stadium as well. an overwhelming sea of people surround you, green, red, and white cover your view. chants, screaming, and excitement flood your ears. there’s so much energy in the stadium that the moment you realize the girls you’re following can’t watch, you feel just as deflated as them. you can hear the crowd screaming, you can feel the ground shake, and for some reason, you’re denied the opportunity to be a part of this. and for what?
the dialogue brilliantly highlights the hypocrisy and self-contradicting logic of iran’s authority. the more the soldiers are pressed, the more unsure they are of what they’re actually doing. but orders are orders, and they have no choice. despite this, i love how much jafar panahi humanizes the soldiers — ultimately they are criticized for what they’re doing, but we also highlight how tied their hands are as well. they’re farmers, they’re football fans, and they are conscripted to be soldiers. if they don’t comply, they’re punished as well.
and throughout the depth offside has, it is also entertaining and hilarious. the spirited, defiant performances of the women in the movie is inspiring, and we root for them all the way. so much to praise about offside in many aspects, but the biggest thing i love about it is its humanity. the joy and energy of sports is translated in such a tangible way here, and just like in real life, sports sometimes lets us escape the horrors of real life, giving us something to live for.
