The Other Final (2003) Reviews

• A football game where everyone wins

  kennymaths2004-03-23

  Given that this film combined travel and football, I suppose there was only the slightest of chances that I wouldn't like it. As it was, I loved every minute of it. Basically, I watched this in "goofy grin" mode throughout. This is a film for every duffer with two left feet who has ever chased after a football and dreamed of glory. Basically, following the failure of The Netherlands to qualify for the 2002 World Cup Finals, a Dutch fan came up with the idea of an "alternative" final between the two lowest ranking countries in the world. Step forward brave Bhutan (202nd) and magnificent Montserrat (203rd). Faxes were issued and the challenge accepted by both. The film covers the build up to the game from both sides, as well as the match itself. It is a story rich in drama. One week before the match, neither side (for vastly differing reasons) has a coach. Three days before the game, they still don't have a referee. The game was played in Bhutan (and while this tiny country has been on my "must visit" list for a few years now, this film really made me want to go there....and soon) and the tortuous route taken by the Montserrat team (via Amsterdam, Bangkok and Calcutta) suggested they were still trying to figure out where Bhutan was, long after they had set out on their epic journey. This is a film about the joy of sport (in a world far away from over-inflated salaries and corporate sponsorship) and also about the meeting of two very different cultures. The Montserrat players are clearly more than a little stunned to be asked for their autographs. The Bhutanese captain (and centre forward) dreams of playing for Arsenal some day (although he knows it will never happen). As for the game itself, it looks like all of Bhutan turns out to watch the epic contest and the local match commentary enhances the spectacle (e.g. "The Montserrat keeper looks very confident with the ball at his feet" - just before he hoofs it straight to the Bhutanese forward). The grass on the pitch is cut by hand, with a sickle. The penalty spot appears to lie in the middle of a marshy bog. It's also not every game where a keeper sits down in his goalmouth and sulks after losing a goal. I guess the best tribute I can pay to this film is that not only did it make me want to visit Bhutan (as previously noted), but it also made me really wish I could have been there to see this game. If only I'd known <sigh!>. This is a magical film. 10/10

• Most uplifting and amazing moving

  pun_kish2004-04-03

  The movie increased my GNH (Gross National Happiness) by several orders of magnitude. Documentary of a match organized between 202 seeded Bhutan and 203 seeded Montserrat (2002 FIFA rankings) by a Dutch footballer and filmmaker, the movie shows us what sports can and should be. The simplicity and humility of a people not yet converted by Nike and Adidas sponsorships (though they perhaps dream of it) is heartwrenching and uplifting.

• The Other Game

  erwan_ticheler2004-06-12

  Possible spoilers: I saw this movie on the Buddhist channel (yes in Holland every group has it's own channel) It is called "The Other Final" cause it is played on the same day that the World Cup final was played in Japan between Brazil and Germany,but after watching this documentary: Who Cares about that match!?! The documentary,shot by Dutch film makers because my nation screwed up during qualifications and didn't compete in the World Cup finals of 2002 but in the end this was even better cause else this film probably would have never been made. Anyway,the doc focuses on a match between the lowest ranked football nations Bhutan and Montserrat.The match itself is played in the Himalaya country of Bhutan.This means that the players of Montserrat (an island in the Caribbean) has to travel all around the world to reach their destination,but for them that isn't important.They just want to play honest football. What makes this movie so brilliant isn't the high level of football,but the REAL level of football.For once it isn't about money,off side or late substitutions but about the fun in playing football.To see it is quite a relief.To see a player of Montserrat looking for a lost ball in the bushes is totally hilarious but so familiar as I used to do the same thing in my childhood.That's what makes it a REAL football movie. Of course the level is inferior,for instance Bhutan has played a match before this one against Kuwait (not a great team,I can assure you) and the lost it 20-0! But again,who cares! After this final both teams are true winners. The final itself isn't that important in the doc,it focuses more on the preparations of the organization and the players which is really a joy to watch. My title "the other game" wasn't really true.This is the real game where no one cares about money about regulations.Just PLAY football! Therefore this the not the "Other" final,but the "Real" final. An absolute must see for every football fan or anybody else for that matter.It is said that one of the world's greatest players Zinedine Zidane really loved it and saw it several times,that is nice to hear. Great work and a small thank you to the players of Holland for not reaching the World Cup Tournament. 9/10

• Sports can overcome cultural differences

  Dennis_Petersen2004-07-08

  Yesterday I saw "The Other Final". It tells the story of the 2002 Football Game between Bhutan and Montserrat. These two nations were on the bottom of the FIFA Ranking in 2002. But the actual game is only a small aspect in the movie. Both countries are introduced and their roads to the match are shown. I really like the movie because the cultural aspect of sports is shown in the movie. One Bhutan official says that this affect is more important than the competition. I totally agree with him. Before the match the two nations never heard of one another. This cultural clash is also a very important aspect of the movie. It is very funny to see the big Montserrat Players walk through the Bhutan town. The camera and photography is kind of awkward sometimes. You can clearly see that they didn't have a huge budget. I don't want to spoil anything but a bouncing football is a constant element in the movie. To sum it up, I really like to recommend the movie to people who want to see a movie about two very different cultures that were brought together by football. And don't worry about the quality of the match. It lasts only 20 minutes. I would give it 9 out of 10 because I like the idea of the movie and it was funny. If you don't like "special" camera-work (like strange zooming), it's more a 7. Go watch it as long it's in theaters.

• The world game is a beautiful game.

  richard-smith2003-10-23

  I have just finished watching this documentary and it really does show you the real side of football that people connect with and not the glamour and money that people associate with our game. A great idea, A great documentary, A great game.