No Place For Football – Review

Cert – N/A, Run-time – 1 hour 31 minutes, Directors – Brandon Scott Smith, Derek Sullivan Smith

A team from Nuuk travel to take part in Greenland’s annual major football tournament, where conditions mean that training and gameplay are confined to three months.

The score to No Place For Football, often lead by some simple guitar, brings to mind moments from Ted Lasso. After first thinking this the players of team B67 from Nuuk, Greenland point out the similar looks of one of their key players and Jason Sudeikis’ titular coach from the hit series. Indeed, ‘Believe’ is a key point of this documentary following the team training and making their way towards the annual tournament that brings together eight of Greenland’s biggest teams at the end of the three month season, just before the snow returns – icebergs and snowy peaks sit directly next to a number of pitches in quaint, colourful towns and villages.

Yet, directors Brandon Scott Smith and Derek Sullivan Smith don’t view the team as underdogs. They have a chance and are going to fight for it, particularly against their biggest rivals. Successes and losses are viewed with support and cheers from behind the camera as a story of teamwork and perseverance is naturally formed through the outlooks and attitudes of the team. Even amongst the worry that the tournament will go on with or without them, it’s an uncertain boat or plane journey to get there and cancellations are common.

Beyond B67 there’s a view of football in Greenland as a whole. Once described by Sepp Blatter as being no place for football due to the weather conditions the players of various teams are adamant to show how good Greenland can be, and that it has a place on the world stage. While we hear of the rivalries between Greenlandic teams there’s a unity to their broader push to the rest of the world.

Regardless of world standings, or even if losing as local teams, there’s a celebration to the documentary of simply going out and having fun. Whether playing or watching, a spirit of competition is present; passion fills many of the themes and conversations during the brief 91-minutes we spend in the company of B67 and Greenland’s three-month football season. The on-screen environment, even though allowing for a grassy pitch, may suggest a chill but there’s plenty of warmth emitting from the attitudes of the central team.

I’ve likely mentioned in previous reviews that my knowledge of football, and sport in general, is paper thin; but, as with many great films and documentaries, that doesn’t matter in the case of No Place Like Football. It’s about the heart and determination of those on screen, what they want to prove and achieve. The team at the centre of the film are all likable and their story of perseverance, going out and enjoying playing and indeed the light touch of Ted Lasso style belief, see things through with admirable passion and spirit.

A look at national and team-based pride and perseverance, alongside the joy of simply getting out and playing, No Place For Football is a warm, welcoming look at determination, not without its Ted Lasso-esque beats.