Shooting for Socrates

Shooting for Socrates is a 2014 Irish film co-writen and directed by James Erskine and starting John Hannah, Richard Dormer and Sergio Mur as Brazilian footballer Sócrates.^[1]

Plot

During the 1986 FIFA World Cup the Northern Ireland national football team play against Brazil national football team in one of the most memorable games in Irish footballing history. The film follows the lives of passionate football supporter Arthur and his son Tommy from East Belfast. The lead up to a momentous day in the life of a young boy (his 10th birthday) mirrors the build up to the big day for the football team as they play the greatest match of their lives.^[2]

Cast

• John Hannah as Billy Bingham
• Conleth Hill as Jackie Fullerton
• Richard Dormer as Arthur
• Nico Mirallegro as David Campbell
• Ciaran McMenamin as Sammy McIlroy
• Barry Ward as Jimmy Quinn
• Bronagh Gallagher as Irene
• Paul Kennedy as Pat Jennings
• Chris Newman as Norman Whiteside
• Aaron McCusker as Gerry Armstrong
• Sergio Mur as Sócrates
• Matthew McElhinney as Jimmy Nichol
• Art Parkinson as Tommy
• Stephen Hagan as Phil Hughes
• Andy Moore as Mal Donaghy
• Patrick Buchanan as Alan McDonald

Production

The scenes of the game in Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara were recreated on Northern Ireland's home turf of Windsor Park in Belfast.^[3]

Release

The film had a limited cinema release in June 2015 before being released on DVD in October 2015.^[4][5] It was ‘DVD of the Week’ in the Irish News.^[6]

Reception

As of September 2018 the film has a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[7]

References