Director: Paolo Zucca.
Starring: Stefano Accorsi, Geppi Cucciari, Jacopo Cullin, Alessio Di Clemente, Marco Messeri, Francesco Pannofino.
Running Time: 96 minutes.
Synopsis: Sardinia’s third-league football championship is turned upside-down by the return of young Matzutzi, who helps the league’s basement-dwellers Atletico Pabarile to victory after victory, much to the chagrin of an arrogant local land-owner who’s used to seeing his team Montecrastu come out on top. Meanwhile, Cruciani, an ambitious referee, is about to hit the top of his game at an international level – until a spanner gets thrown in the works…
THE REFEREE is a film of second impressions. From the title to the above synopsis, everything is misleading – a realisation that strikes in the first five minutes of the film when we see a sheep being beheaded. But this is perhaps THE REFEREE’s main strength; its ability to surprise, even as it reaches its chaotic climax.
Based on a short film that tells only the story of Cruciani, the referee in question, Paolo Zucca and Barbara Alberti’s screenplay has expanded that idea into a web of complex, interweaving story threads. Featuring highs, lows, romance, slapstick, bribes and bare behinds, it culminates in an amateur division football cup final in Sardinia, where it’s probably best to expect the unexpected.
It’s hard to pinpoint a main protagonist in Paolo Zucca’s comedy. From Jacopo Cullin’s match-winning Matzutzi to the eponymous decision-maker’s fall from international-level football, the ingenious screenplay hops from one character to another and yet it never feels convoluted or messy. Certain narrative threads may have you scratching your head at first, but the pay-off is worth it.
The black-and-white nature of the film lends a timeless air to proceedings that really helps to embellish a solid Italian heart, a feeling no doubt enhanced by its classic score. Zucca’s direction is equally purposeful, particularly with wide-angle shots that leave us with much to consume. Every frame drips with detail, and not a single shot is without intent.
Boasting a superb script and fantastic performances, THE REFEREE is a hilarious, complex and ultimately rewarding tale of lower-league Italian football that deserves to be seen.
[usr=5] THE REFEREE was screened as part of the Cinema Made In Italy film festival at the Cine Lumiere, London. Click here for more information. See the rest of our coverage here.
