The Referee
8.67
Ratings: 8.67/10 from 52 users.
What does it take to be a world class football referee? Top football referee Martin Hansson had a successful journey towards his vision in life, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Then one dark night in Paris on November 18th, 2009, all hell broke loose...
Hansson’s story has meaning beyond football. The Referee strangely echoes Errol Morris’s portrait of Robert McNamara in The Fog of War.
This film is a humane portrait of what it means to be a referee as a way of engaging in a more calm set of reflections about the meaning of justice, law, and human error in football and beyond.
Instant replay is still considered magic to Europeans.
he looks like Tomas Holmstrom from the Detroit Red Wings, also a Swede.
The documetary shows that it is impossible to see through people (players) even if one has a whistle in the mouth.
To bad that such a small thing gets such big conceqences.
AND he did not referee any of the games in South Africa, he was 4th official in a few games.
Just watched this documentary and would like to recommend it to anyone that like football, but also to people that don't usually enjoy the sport. It is a nice portrait of a trouble man. Thanks very much for this excellent post, adm!
Wow, I didn't know a small time crook like Martin Hansson could live such an exciting life. Seems an Astrid Lindgren kind of world. No wonder he cracks under pressure. A fantastic documentary about a seriously dubious character. This is a must see if if you don't like football.
Sweet little insight to the life of a soccer ref. tougher than you would imagine... and, yes, is it really worth it?
...ok...I did not know a blown call is reason for a documentary. Who knew?
If you'd bothered to watch it, you'd realize it was being made long before the bad call.
I fell asleep and dreamed Marty came to be my roommate at my beautiful big home. He only stayed a few weeks and was great except for a few homicidal explosions when I mentioned, his wife, kids or women in general. Now it's weird because I don't own a home or even like football (soccer)as I live in a first world country that can afford hockey equipment. However he got along fine with the other imaginary characters that streamed through. There was that foot massaging that felt a little odd, but I'd rather not elaborate on that. Overall, I'd strongly recommend this doc if you need a sleeping pill or like grown men running around in shorts.