The Referees
The Referees
How can a few crucial minutes in a football match change the life of an entire family? How do the "men in black" feel when they are attacked by supporters? The Referees unveils the lives of several professional football referees at the EURO 2008 championship; amongst them, the English referee Howard Webb, who provoked incredible controversy when he gave a penalty to Austria just before the end of the match with Poland, and the Italian Roberto Rosetti, who refereed the final.
3.1 out of 5 based on 9 reviews
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Omniscore:
|
| Certificate |
15 |
| Genre |
Documentary |
| Director |
Eric Cardot, Lehericey Delphine Yves Hinant |
| Cast |
Manuel Mejuto González, Roberto Rosetti Howard Webb |
| Studio |
Soda Pictures |
| Release Date |
August 2011 |
| Running Time |
77 |
| |
How can a few crucial minutes in a football match change the life of an entire family? How do the "men in black" feel when they are attacked by supporters? The Referees unveils the lives of several professional football referees at the EURO 2008 championship; amongst them, the English referee Howard Webb, who provoked incredible controversy when he gave a penalty to Austria just before the end of the match with Poland, and the Italian Roberto Rosetti, who refereed the final.
Reviews
The Guardian
Peter Bradsh
"There is something compelling and slightly eerie about seeing a match with the crowd-volume turned down almost to zero while we listen in to the audio channel between the referee and his assistants, formerly known as linesmen, communicating via headsets"
04/08/2011
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Total Film
Tom Dawson
"Eschewing voice-over, director Yves Hinant spotlights the reality of an occupation where an unpopular call can result in death threats."
03/08/2011
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The Observer
Philip French
"[The referees] have what most of the childlike millionaires they discipline lack – character"
07/08/2011
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The Daily Telegraph
Sukhuv Sandhu
"It’s charming... contrary to what their legions of detractors believe, [referees] love the beautiful game."
04/08/2011
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Empire Magazine
Simon Crook
"Defining shot: an Italian linesman practising his flag-waving in front of a dressing room mirror."
15/08/2011
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The Evening Standard
Derek Malcom
"Howard Webb... puts on a display of refereeing that should makes us proud to be Brits."
05/08/2011
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The Times
Kate Muir
"While this documentary is more suited to television than the cinema, it does provide fly-on-the-wall insight."
05/08/2011
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The Sunday Times
Edward Porter
"The footage is simple but engrossing, and it reminds us that the men in black are only human and have a nerve-racking job to do"
07/08/2011
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Time Out
Wally Hammond
"Presumptuous, mildly diverting and intentionally myopic"
08/04/2011
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