The Game of Their Lives (천리마 축구단; Ch'ŏllima Ch'ukkudan, Chollima Football Team) is a 2002 documentary film directed by Daniel Gordon with Nicholas Bonner of Koryo Tours as an associate producer about the seven surviving members of the North Korea national football team who participated in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.[1][2][3][4] Its victory over Italy propelled the North Korean team into the quarterfinal: it was the first time an Asian team had advanced so far in a World Cup.
| The Game of Their Lives | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Cheollima Chukgudan |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'ŏllima Ch'ukkudan |
| Directed by | Daniel Gordon |
| Produced by | Daniel Gordon (principal), Nicholas Bonner (associate producer) |
| Edited by | Justine Wright |
Release date | 21 October 2002 |
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Language | English |
Release and reception edit
Following the documentary's release, the seven members of the team visited England.[5][6] The film toured in several American cities.[7]
The documentary has previously aired on BBC Four.[2][8] It was the first non-Russian Western film to air on North Korean state television, and has done so multiple times.[9][10]
It received positive reviews from Variety[11] and The Washington Post.[12]
Awards edit
- 2003: Winner, the Royal Television Society award for best sports documentary.[citation needed]
- 2003: Nominated for Best Historical Documentary at the Grierson Awards.[citation needed]
- 2003: Nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.[citation needed]
- 2003: First prize, Seville Film Festival.[citation needed]
- 2004: Refracting Reality Documentary Film Award, Seattle International Film Festival, tied with Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2003).[citation needed]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Coldwell, Will (8 October 2015). "Tourism or propaganda: how ethical is your North Korean holiday?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ a b Tomlinson, Alan; Young, Christopher (2006). National Identity and Global Sports Events. p. 96.
The seven surviving members of the North Korean team were brought back to Middlesbrough in 2002 for the documentary film The Game of Their Lives, made by Nick Bonner and Dan Gordon and shown on BBC 4
- ^ Taylor, Louise (9 June 2010). "How little stars from North Korea were taken to Middlesbrough's heart". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ LeGro, Tom (14 June 2010). "As North Korea Returns to World Cup, Filmmaker Recounts 'Underdog' 1966 Team". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ White, Jim (18 October 2002). "North Korea in town to relive game of their lives". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "North Koreans to relive World Cup game of their lives". South China Morning Post. 16 September 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "British Filmmakers Dan Gordon and Nick Bonner". NPR. 5 March 2003. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "BBC Four - The Game of Their Lives". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Landreth, Jonathan (31 December 2010). "'Bend It Like Beckham' Is First Western Film to Screen on North Korean Television". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Lee, Hyo-won (14 August 2007). "`NK Documentary Is Not Political'". The Korea Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (25 April 2003). "The Game of Their Lives". Variety. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Timely 'Game of Their Lives'". The Washington Post. 28 February 2003. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
External links edit
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