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Eyes on the Prize

Excellence comes at a price. That's the message of these films, as greed, frailty and ego obstruct the path to victory. Alan Clarke and Lindsay Anderson show the sharp end of fictional sporting heroes, while Kurosawa and Herzog take a different route.
A car race and a snooker musical complete the line up.
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This Sporting Life This Sporting Life

Sport 1963 129 mins Director: Lindsay Anderson

Lindsay Anderson’s fantastic first feature masterfully dissects the brutal life struggles of a rough-edged rugby footballer on and off the field.

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The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner

Documentary 1975 46 mins Director: Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog’s moving portrait of a record-breaking ski jumper.

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Achilles' Heel Achilles' Heel

Sport 1973 56 mins Director: Alan Clarke

Alan Clarke’s film of a day in the life of a professional footballer as he deals with the newfound pressures of money, glamour and celebrity in the 1970s game.

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The Great Game The Great Game

Comedy 1952 77 mins Director: Maurice Elvey

Goals and glamour go together in this high-scoring drama of football league corruption with Thora Hird, Diana Dors and John Laurie.

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Monty the Lamb Monty the Lamb

Short documentary 2006 12 mins Director: Paul Kelly

A day in the life of North London non-leaguers Hendon F.C., seen through the eyes of their club mascot, carpet fitter Dave Garner.

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Playing Away Playing Away

Sport 1986 102 mins Director: Horace Ové

A cricketing comedy of manners exploring white and black stereotypes, from pioneering British filmmaker Horace Ové.

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The Shout The Shout

Drama 1978 83 mins Director: Jerzy Skolimowski

Cannes’ Grand Jury Prize was awarded to this unnerving drama about a man who claims to be able to kill people with a ‘terror shout’ learned from an Aboriginal shaman.

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Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire

Musical 1985 90 mins Director: Alan Clarke

Alan Clarke’s once derided feature is surely the only vampire snooker musical in cinema history and a genuine cult artefact ripe for rediscovery.

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Sanshiro Sugata Sanshiro Sugata

Crime 1943 79 mins Director: Akira Kurosawa

Kurosawa’s assured debut film about a young man’s spiritual journey through the study and practice of judo.

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Sanshiro Sugata part two Sanshiro Sugata part two

Crime 1945 79 mins Director: Akira Kurosawa

This sequel reunites most of the principal cast from the original and follows Sanshiro face a new set of enemies whilst continuing his quest to become a judo master.

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Genevieve Genevieve

Comedy 1953 83 mins Director: Henry Cornelius

Classic British comedy about two vintage automobile enthusiasts racing from Brighton to London.

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Soapbox Derby Soapbox Derby

Children's 1957 64 mins Director: D'Arcy Conyers

Children’s Film Foundation adventure that sees a young Michael Crawford scrapping with a rival South London gang in Battersea.