The Zidane documentary is being shown in Japan and it is turning out to be a huge hit.
From Mainichi newspaper:
The promotional photo for "Zidane" ((C) Anna Lena films)Long after the Italians finished celebrating their win, soccer fans and casual watchers alike are still talking about World Cup 2006 as the year of "that head butt," especially in Japan.
In the wake of the incident, a documentary-cum-art film called "Zidane: un Portrait de 21e Siecle" is enjoying a surprising popularity in Japan, as Japanese soccer fans rally round to support the legendary Zinedane Zidane after his inglorious exit from professional football by being red-carded for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
Currently showing at the CineQuanon cinema in Tokyo's Yurakucho, the film is basically a full-length soccer game -- Real Madrid vs. Villareal, played on April 23, 2005 -- composed of Spanish broadcast footage and high quality video taken from pitchside, focused exclusively on Zidane for the whole time. The footage is interspersed by quotes from Zidane on his experiences in soccer, and soundtracked by Scottish band Mogwai.
CineQuanon employee Kaori Nagano commented, "We've had around 7000 people come to see it. The real Zidane fans enjoyed the film, but I think the regular soccer punters got a little frustrated with the style of the film."
A message left for retired French footballer Zidane by a Japanese fan at the CineQuanon cinema in Yurakucho, Tokyo. (Mainichi)Freelance writer Hajime Shishido, from Chiba Prefecture, agreed, saying "I would've liked to see more about Zidane himself."
However, Yamada, a student from Kanagawa Prefecture, enjoyed the film, saying, "It had a quiet feel to it, much quieter than I expected." His friend Kawagoe agreed, saying also that "It gave a very personal view of Zidane."
Regarding the attack during the World Cup, Yamada said, "It's something I think everyone regrets, especially since it was his last match. But it's not as though it was unusual for Zidane."
Machiro, a part-time worker from Ibaraki Prefecture, agreed, saying, "When I saw it, the first thing I thought was 'Not again'. He will always be a football hero though. And the film was good, it was really like standing on the pitch."
A message left for retired French footballer Zidane by a Japanese fan in French at the CineQuanon cinema in Yurakucho, Tokyo. (Mainichi)After seeing the movie, Zidane fans can add their own voice of support for the now-retired player by adding a message to the hundreds already adorning the walls of the cinema in French, Japanese and English. The cinema will send them on to Zidane at the end of the screening. (By Roger Hutchings)