Film 4 made a number of simple but beautifully observed pictures in the years immediately after the launch of the channel, but which no-one makes any more. This is an excellent example, a perfect companion to the more famous P'Tang Yang Kipperbang.
Quite why this is so overlooked is difficult to understand - could it be that (with some bitter irony) a film that has a sub-theme of discrimination against women in football is itself ignored because its a film based around a group of girl football fans?
Or could it be that people are put off because its a "football film", or about one club?
Whatever the reason is, its a shame as this is a little gem. A perfect evocation of what it is to be young, as well as being a sports fan. Iit captures the feel of early 60s perfectly, before the decade began to swing. But above all its about friendship. What it isn't about is football (or even, come to that, girls) - that is almost incidental, a core to build the story around.
Above all this is a warm, happy, gentle, perfectly paced film that would appeal to just about anyone of any age. Even Arsenal fans!
Quite why this is so overlooked is difficult to understand - could it be that (with some bitter irony) a film that has a sub-theme of discrimination against women in football is itself ignored because its a film based around a group of girl football fans?
Or could it be that people are put off because its a "football film", or about one club?
Whatever the reason is, its a shame as this is a little gem. A perfect evocation of what it is to be young, as well as being a sports fan. Iit captures the feel of early 60s perfectly, before the decade began to swing. But above all its about friendship. What it isn't about is football (or even, come to that, girls) - that is almost incidental, a core to build the story around.
Above all this is a warm, happy, gentle, perfectly paced film that would appeal to just about anyone of any age. Even Arsenal fans!