BELIEVE

UK, 2013, 99 minutes, Colour.

Jack Smith, Brian Cox, Natascha McElhone, Anne Reid, Philip Jackson, Kate Ashfield, Toby Stephens.

Directed by David Scheinman.

British audiences enjoy football films. And, Manchester United, was one of the key clubs in competition.

This is a story of Sir Matt Busby, Scots player, coach of Manchester United after the war till the end of the 1960s. He was haunted by an accident in 1958, plane crash, the death of so many of the players. However, he was encouraged to continue coaching, supported by his wife. Matt Busby is played here by the ever-reliable Brian Cox with Anne Reid as his wife.

At the centre of the film is a young boy, George, played by Jack Smith, very convincing as a tearaway, upset about his father’s death, making life difficult for his mother (Natascha McElhone), talented with the football, his mother wanting him to go to a prestigious Lancashire College, his having to have private tuition, unwillingly, but finally sitting for the exam.

But, the important thing is his stealing a wallet, from Matt Busby, wanting money to enrol his friends as a team in the football competition. Caught, he then breaks into the tutor’s house but again is caught. Busby’s attention is drawn to George’s talent with the ball and decides to coach the team, enlisting his old friend, Bob (Philip Jackson reminding enthusiasts of his ongoing role as Inspector Japp along with David Suchet as Poirot). Busby does not tell the children who he really is – and George later reacts upset, feeling that Busby had lied to him.

There are enjoyable coaching sequences, the response of the young children, the littlest in the group as well as the girl who has quite some talent.

Of course, this will all build to a climax with the final match, George boycotting and doing his exams, his relenting mother going to get him, his coming on at the second half, scoring the final goals (and Matt Busby seeing the vision of his admired dead footballers encouraging).

Entertaining and a morale booster for young audiences.

1. A popular football film? British audiences? International? Manchester United?
2. 1984, atmosphere, the suburbs, homes, streets, poverty? The contrast with the Lancashire school and its prestige, grounds, interiors? Sitting for exams? The football fields, the boys playing? Musical score?
3. The title, Matt Busby and his career, coaching Manchester United, quarter of a century, the experience of the plane crash and tragedy, loss of faith, having to believe again, his encounter with George, seeing his talent, the decision to coach, enlisting the help of Bob, the hostility of George’s mother, the agreements, the training, the boys and girls and the team? The competition and participating?
4. George’s story, his age, the death of his father, his mother’s severity, her wanting him to get the scholarship, the visit to the College, the meeting with Dr Farquar, the agreement about the tuition, preparation for the exam? George unwilling? The stealing of the wallet, the encounter with Matt Busby, his ability with the ball, his response to Matt and the discussions about coaching, wanting his group to enter the competition, breaking into Dr Farquar’s office, taking the money? His being caught, the police, his mother, Matt getting him out? Paying the entry fee? The play, the coaching, the range of members of the team, friendship, the smallest member, having a girl, her skills and talent?
5. Erica, bringing up George, his being difficult, wanting him to get the scholarship, the visit to the College, the tuition, forbidding him football? Her being upset with Matt Busby? Their arguments? Arguments with her son? With her friend Helen? Her finally relenting, George asking her to go to the match and support the team, her going to get him from the exam, the breakdown, eventually arriving?
6. Dr Farquar, his band and his musical ambitions, seeing him alone in his office, his bringing the band onto the football field, and the delaying tactics until George arrived?
7. Matt Busby, his age, experience, background, his being haunted by the plane crash, the presence of the dead players and his admiration for them? Not telling George and the children the truth? Bob’s arrival, his friendship with Bob, Bob and his personality? The coaching? The response of the children? George and his talent? Matt and his relationship with his wife, her encouragement?
8. George, upset about the truth, feeling that Matt had lied to him? His reaction, doing the studies, decision to sit the exam? Doing the exam, his mother coming to get him, returning to the match, late, going on the field, the goal? (And the image of the dead footballers appearing in supporting?)

9. A popular football film? An encouragement of youngsters, with difficult backgrounds, playing, sense of achievement? Belief?