The Penalty King (2006)

One of my all time favorites.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Having your eyesight removed from you is one of the many challenges in life.Our protagonist of the story dreams of his days on the football pitch, but is clearly too proud to say really what he wants, helped wonderfully by his friend the moment he says: "I guess it's time for that damn good kick about."The Penalty King is a touching subtle story of camaraderie amongst men. Finding a place in society, the working man has a life outside of work; this is wonderfully portrayed in the movie by the footballers, not to mention the evil boss from hell who bans "toys with a synthetic oral capability" - a crude reminder of the health and safety world in which we live today.This story is a joy from start to finish, carried along with great subtle humour, touching upon many down to earth social issues of the working class. In my opinion, this film really appreciates the aesthetics of British society and its complexities, in a way that only someone that has lived in this country long enough could come up with. It has a positive outlook and a great insight into our country for anyone unfamiliar with the British way of life.

After a slow start I began to enjoy and get into the black humour and novelty of this unusual film. I liked the way different atmospheres were successfully blended together, particularly integrating old Leeds United footage with current Sunday football. Having lived in Brighton I also enjoyed 'spotting' locations skillfully used, local people or those who love Brighton would enjoy seeing it in a different light. Having a blind man as the hero of the film gave an interesting, thought-provoking take on disability issues. I think the various shots and editing work well, especially the sliding doors effect. I was not sure about some aspects of the social services equipment store, especially the search for the files, and the reaction of the disabled client felt over the top. I felt there were some instances in the film when it seemed to briefly 'freeze' or jump a bit, possibly this was intentional but not sure if it succeeded.

I had the pleasure of actually being in this, albeit as an extra. I was the tall chav with glasses when Lee was being hassled by the beach.The crew were all very friendly, as were the cast (those of which I met). It was a good day, despite the fact that I am devoid of all footballing talent! I first actually saw the film at its Brighton premiere, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I can recommend it to anyone, even if they're not football fans. I'm certainly not.Chris is a marvellous director, not to mention a very nice man. He performed a marvel in developing this movie, almost literally done on a shoestring.Keep an eye out for him in future.

Suffering from the double disability of being both blind and a fervent Leeds United supporter, social worker Lee longs for nothing more to ease the frustrations of daily life than "a damn good kick-about". His unhinged colleague Charlie decides to make his dream come true, and inveigles him onto a local works football team. But will Lee ever get to exercise his preternatural talent for the penalty kick?"The Penalty King" is an eccentric tale with a dark underside, although still more "Strictly Ballroom" than "Kes". Played by Nick Bartlett as a tightly-wound knot of barely contained aggression, Lee invites neither pity nor sympathy—more the impulse to duck behind a pillar when you see him coming. It's fair to say blindness is the least of his problems.One senses writer/director Chris Cook went to some pretty dark places in his life for the raw materials for this fable, leading to an unsettling blend of truth and fantasy. For example, the portrait of the dank, dysfunctional social services depot where Lee works is both grotesquely over-the-top and strangely accurate. There's also a depth to the rest of the characters which is unusual in a comedy. Played with relish by a strong supporting cast, they're all pretty much bent or damaged too, and there's a violent and bitter edge to their relationships which undercuts the whimsy. "Penalty King" might never achieve the crossover success of "Bend it like Beckham" but it still has all the makings of a cult favourite. It may lack a cart-wheeling Keira Knightley, but there are compensations, notably in the shape of the delightful but underused Clare Grogan (as Lee's bossy-boots boss), who still has the ability to make men of a certain age go weak at the knees. Her drunk scenes alone are worth the price of admission.The film takes its own time to get going, and occasionally over-indulges itself, but can nevertheless sit alongside classics like "Sideways" and "Withnail and I" as an exploration of less creditable sides of the male psyche. An agreeable if not totally uplifting movie then, and, while something of a rough diamond, a gem all the same.