RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Offside
Offside

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Offside (2006)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
95 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 79

Fresh: 75

Rotten:4

Average Rating: 8/10

Consensus: A spirited film that explores gender politics with comedy, intelligence, and a variety of interesting characters.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for language throughout, and some thematic elements

Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Theatrical Release:Mar 23, 2007 Limited

Synopsis: Many Iranian girls love soccer as much as their countrymen and sport fans all over the world but, they are prevented by law from attending live soccer matches in their country. Inspired by the day... Many Iranian girls love soccer as much as their countrymen and sport fans all over the world but, they are prevented by law from attending live soccer matches in their country. Inspired by the day when his own daughter was refused entry to a soccer stadium in Iran, Jafar Panahi's OFFSIDE follows a day in the life of a group of Iranian girls attempting to watch their team's World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain at the stadium in Tehran. A disparate group of girls, united only by their desire to see their beloved team play live and in-person, disguise themselves in myriad ways, risking arrest to try to get into the game. The girls are either caught trying to get in or are spotted in the crowd once they make it past the entry guards, and all are taken to a holding area on the upper level of the stadium, where they are tortured by being able to hear the roar of the crowd without being able to see what is happening in the match. The young women, who range from timid to tomboy, are guarded by a group of naïve young soldiers who would rather be watching the game themselves, out with their girlfriends or at home looking after their sheep. The soldiers and their prisoners are so close in age, and the girls' crimes so harmless, that they have a hard time maintaining their adversarial roles. As they wait out the game, the young men interact with and befriend the generally far more savvy women. One girl is a tomboy from the city who taunts the guards about their country ways. Another young woman relates the adventure that got her caught to cheers from the other girls – she stole an officer's uniform to disguise herself but, made the mistake of sitting in the wrong chair in the VIP enclosure. One young soldier, who is as much a fan as his captives, is persuaded into shouting out the highlights of the game as he watches through a gate. When he is scolded by a slightly superior officer, his punishment is being forced to escort one of the girls to the bathroom. Fearful of how the men in the stadium might react, he punches out the eyes of a cardboard player's poster to make a mask for his prisoner, so she won't offend any men on the way. One girl turns out not to be a soccer fan at all but, has her own sentimental reasons for wanting to be at the game in honor of a friend. As the game nears it's end, the girls are rounded up in a van to be transported to jail, along with another young man who was caught setting off firecrackers in the stadium. The soldier in charge is persuaded to turn on the radio so they can hear the final moments of the game on the way and, when Iran defeats Bahrain to win the qualifying match, the day ends happily for all. -- © Sony Pictures Classics [More]

Starring: Ida Sadeghi, Mohammad Kheyrabadi, Shayesteh Irani, Safar Samandar

Starring: Ida Sadeghi, Mohammad Kheyrabadi, Shayesteh Irani, Safar Samandar, Sima Mobarak Shahi

Director: Jafar Panahi

Director: Jafar Panahi
Producer: Jafar Panahi
Screenwriter: Jafar Panahi, Shadmehr Rastin
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Aug 28, 2007

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Offside

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
10/18/08
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
10/18/08
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Another no-frills success from one of Iran's most accessible directors.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/03/08
Sam Jordison
Channel 4 Film
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Stylus Magazine | comment Comment
12/01/07
Bill Weber
Stylus Magazine

Engaging, insightful, and crowd-pleasing comedy sports drama.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/28/07
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A plea for cultural evolution that doesn't point fingers, instead only hoping that the next generations will wake up and take the sensible steps towards the future.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
09/13/07
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

A phenomenal work... the sort of satire where reality is its own punchline.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/11/07
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

A protest film that disarms the opposition with a feather, not a cudgel...

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
09/07/07
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

If you like to see an inspirational sports film, with an amusing spin on the genre, then Offside is well worth the watch.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
09/04/07
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

From the Western perspective, the feisty protagonists' predicament might seem silly, until it gradually sinks in that this treatment is business as usual in a backward land that seems to have gotten stuck in the Middle Ages. Alley Oop lives!

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
08/29/07
Kam Williams
NewsBlaze

Jafar Panahi's film is disarming because it presents a mostly good natured, at times humorous, approach to issues that are extremely serious.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/28/07
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

Exhilarating, exuberant and drolly funny.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
08/04/07
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A film of masks . . . Droll comedy and wry ironies artfully disguise Panahi's poignant questioning of national pride, governing the public good, and even the sadness mixed in with past victories.

Full Review Source: Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) | comment Comment
07/18/07
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

a gem that should not be missed.

Full Review Source: Murphy's Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/14/07
Ted Murphy
Murphy's Movie Reviews

The rare Iranian film that is not only thoughtful and thought-provoking but also a lot of fun.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
06/15/07
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Its ruminations on secular Iranian nationalism are effectively couched within the characters, and the film, which won the Berlin Film Festival’s Silver Bear but is banned in Iran, has a refreshing slyness to it, as if it’s getting away with something too.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
06/08/07
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle

Although the game is not seen, it provides a kinetic, real-time, documentary-like backdrop for a story structured like a game itself, albeit one where neither compassion nor logic apply, and at which everyone loses.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
06/07/07
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
all

Latest News for Offside

October 18, 2007: The big challenge cooked up here is not who wins the soccer match with lots of bare legged hairy men kicking a ball around, but which daring young Iranian female sports nuts infiltrate the stadium in this deliciously irreverent story. Opens in new window
More...

August 28, 2007: RT on DVD: Blades of Glory, Air Guitar Nation, and Heroes: Season 1 Arrive!
It's an exciting week to be a fan of NBC's Heroes (we vote Petrelli -- Peter Petrelli!) but the uninitiated also have rival figure skaters, real-life air guitarists, and plenty... More...

June 22, 2007: The biggest challenge in Offside is not who wins the game, but which daring enough girls manage to sneak into the stadium. Opens in new window
More...

April 28, 2007: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for Offside

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
79%
79%
Gran Torino
30%
30%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
—
The Code
39%
39%
Inkheart

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

Deconstructing Harry

Deconstructing Harry

Pt. 3: Cuaron's darker Prisoner of Azkaban

Best Mockumentaries

Best Mockumentaries

From Borat to Spinal Tap, this one goes to 11

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince

How good is the 6th Harry Potter?

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: T.J. Hooker Film in Development
38
  • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
134
  • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
42
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
60
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
20
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
10
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
82
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
67
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
53
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
46
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
44
  • Tomatometer Watch: How Good is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
43
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
39
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
28
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
20
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Offside at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Offside at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.