Infinite Football (Fotbal Infinit)
Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu’s new documentary follows his eccentric friend, Laurentiu Ginghina, undertaking a journey to revolutionise football. It proves an engaging story for all audiences. Infinite Football is a captivating watch that will interest viewers, regardless of whether they are football fans or not. However, while it is enjoyable, it can at points feel confused and in need of finessing.
The 70-minute film shows us the personal perspective of a man channelling the pain of his past through a series of interviews. A true story with a gloomy backdrop and atmosphere, we learn that Ginghina suffered multiple leg injuries that never healed properly and ultimately prevented his football dreams from coming to fruition. Infinite Football focuses on Ginghina in the present as he sets out to reinvent the sport, to improve on the age-old formula and perfect the game itself. The documentary shows his passion and drive paired with his daily life behind a desk working a nine-to-five job, demonstrating the stark and glum contrast between his dreams and his reality.
Paired with Ginghina’s aspirations, we see his life, revealing a past pregnant with political significance that provides some of the most intriguing moments in the documentary. However, the interviews muddle Infinite Football at points as well as appearing non-committal, since many stories are left open-ended. By the end of the documentary, Ginghina is still something of a mystery. We don’t know if his ideas are successful or if he was really an amazing player before his leg injuries. In some ways, Infinite Football feels as if it could have pushed further in exploring Ginghina’s interesting life and goals. But his the charisma and optimism are memorable to experience.
Infinite Football is a successful documentary: it is interesting, feels fresh and stays in your mind for some time after the closing credits. It is a slow burner with a few holes but ultimately a fascinating watch.
Emma-Jane Betts
Infinite Football (Fotbal Infinit) is released digitally on Curzon Home Cinema on 8th May 2020.
Watch the trailer for Infinite Football (Fotbal Infinit) here:
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