OFFSIDE

Iran, 2006, 93 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Jafar Panahi.

Different countries, different cultures, different customs. While many nations take it for granted that women attend soccer/football matches, this is not the case in Iran. Veteran director, Jafar Panahi, takes the occasion of the 2005 qualifying match for the World Cup between Iran and Bahrain for a comedy of disguise and errors.

Several women and girls are desperate to watch the match and devise different ways of disguise to get past the police and the officials. Most of them are not too hard to spot, so they are caught and held by young military personnel until the match is over.

Comedy is an obvious way to make social comment. The light touch on a serious issue often helps give a perspective that enables observers to make prudent and commonsense decisions. So, the escapades of
the women, the jokes about their disguises, the exasperation of the young men and the critique of the customs are all meant to be entertaining – with purpose.

The film moves with a cheerful pace and the audience is invited to share the frustrations of the women – so near and yet so far. When final victory is achieved, some of the tightness disappears in the exhilaration, which means that it should be possible (despite irate fathers who speak of killing their daughters for their behaviour) for men and women to watch the matches together.

Panahi has made several significant films over the last decade, each quite different, the children’s film The White Balloon, the story of women released from gaol, The Circle, and the crime drama, Crimson Gold.

1.The acclaim for the film? Awards in Berlin? Popularity in Iran – and suspicions in Iran? The role of women? Women and sport?

2.The career of the director, as editor and director? His films focusing on women and the issues in Iran? Oppression? Marginalisation?

3.The decision to do a film about sport? The political implications?

4.The structure of the film: the girls going to the stadium, trying to get in, the men going in, the progress of the match, the women getting in in disguise, their being rounded up, held without being able to watch the game, the progress of the game, the encounter with the soldiers? The aftermath? Their being taken away? Parents? Criticisms?

5.The atmosphere of soccer in Iran? The fans? The actual match against Bahrain? The progress of the match, the shouts, the cheers? The ultimate victory for Iran?

6.The girl trying to leave home, disguise? Her parents? Travel in the bus? Meeting up with the other girls? Their trying to bluff their way in? Some of them being discovered? Their being held in detention? The characters and personalities of the girls?

7.The guards, strictness? Regulations in Iran for women? The reasons – modesty, language?

8.The soldiers, the young recruits, from the countryside, from country towns? Their trying to handle the situation? Their own attitudes? Towards the match, towards the girls?

9.The girl trying to go to the toilet – and escape, her being taken again? The activities of the other girls? Protests, complaints? The camaraderie between the girls?

10.The boys on the buses? Their attitudes? The driver and the dispute?

11.The parents, the father and his stern attitude towards his daughter?

12.The discussion with the soldiers, the soldier explaining life at home, the cattle?

13.The finale, the boys with the fireworks, the celebration? The girls and their having missed the match – but experienced all the excitement?

14.How influential a film like this in changing public attitudes towards women? Political change?