This film was often being positively compared (at least in Germany) with "Sommermärchen" (WC 2006)which was a soapy sentimental report on the German team. In this minute it is shown on Arte and I am totally disappointed. Football is about strategy and strength. All you get here is close ups of a disgruntled Zizou, you never have the chance to see him directing the game but he comes across as a headless chicken. It would have been more interesting if the filmmakers had attached a Zidane-cam on his head. And what were these totally idiotic 3 minutes of bomb attacks and turds blowing themselves up near Hamburg? If you fancy Zidanes facial features and are into heavy breathing (apparently dubbed)thrown in then you'll have a wonderful hour and a half. For me it's not.

Let me start of by saying this isn't a film for people who don't appreciate football. If you don't like football, then this film isn't for you. Yes, it is also an art film with exceptional cinematography, but to fully understand the nature of the film, and the nature and grace of Zinedine Zidane you must at least have some interest in football.To many, including myself, Zinedine Zidane is the nearest specimen to a perfect footballer ever seen. He has everything needed to play the beautiful game; grace, intelligence, imagination and technique. So a film about the greatest footballer of modern times couldn't go by my unnoticed. The film is far from conventional, and at times completely hypnotic, as Zidane says himself, his memories of matches are fragmented and this could easily apply to this film. It is like a mirage of images, like watching a dream. Although clips of the match on TV keep it within reality, the numerous shots of "Zizou" on the pitch are completely surreal.To understand this film beyond its cinematography, you must, as I said appreciate football. The subtle touches of the ball; the interaction with his fellow teammates, Raul, Roberto Carlos; the very way he moves around the field could not be significant unless you understand the very nature of Zidane. The film captures the intimate moments of despair and victory and of Zidanes very thoughts. The world and mind of Zidane is brought to the viewer in an empathetic way not seen in most films. For the ninety minutes or so, we shadow Zidane, we are even Zidane.But despite all this, the film is significantly flawed. I am probably not the first to say at times you feel completely bored, and are tired of Zidane just walking around. You feel this might have been a good idea if they hadn't of chose to show ALL 90 minutes. But they do, and at times it is completely tedious. You eventually ask yourself if you are watching the same clips on a loop, the shots are so repetitive. Granted the "second half" is a lot better, as it is eventful and Zidane comes to life for better and for worse. Though you can't help feel you just wasted 90 minutes of your life.As a fanatic follower of football, this film just about keeps me interested, so God help anyone who wants to watch this AND is not interested in football.

This is the most affecting, profound piece of documentary film I have seen in years. That said, it is a challenging work that doesn't fully reveal it's power until well into the viewing. As much a meditation as a film, the net effect is similar to that of watching "Winged Migration". Watching the simple, relatively unaffected actions of Zidane over the course of a match begins to work on you. I pondered politics, commercialism, world conflict, fame, economics, the media and more over the course of my first viewing. There is no easy way to encapsulate the overall feeling, the ebbs and tides experienced while watching the film, but afterward you will view the world in as if with new eyes.It is also a masterpiece technically. I couldn't help but admire the precise and exquisite sound design and music, how they blended to the action and psychological state being portrayed to the moment. The cameras seamlessly take the viewer from sprawling, epic points of view to the most intimate. The use of subtitle without voice over narration used to portray Zidane's thoughts is nothing short of revolutionary.This film may disappoint a soccer fan simply seeking a piece of sports entertainment, but for a lover and student of film it is groundbreaking, important work that must be seen.

This film about the great footballer Zinedine Zidane is an absolute disappointment. Not so much total football as total rubbish.I expected a sort of documentary about Zidane, one of the greatest footballers ever. Perhaps a few interviews, a look at his background in Marseille, the Algerian ancestry. It could have made for a fascinating film, combining great football with a cultural look at modern France.Perhaps throw in a few shots of some of his greatest, most skillful moments from a few of his matches - the great artistry against Man Utd in the European Cup quarter final a few years ago.Instead, what do we get? A facile, banal 90 minutes of shots of Zidane as he runs around the pitch. There is lots of 'realist' sound recordings, boots on grass, breathing, etc. 90 minutes of utterly boring concentration on one man, Zidane, in one of his less effective performances. In fact, he had a bad match altogether. Who wants 90 minutes of that? You might as well have 90 minutes of Leonardo da Vinci cooking.The directors Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno obviously have no understanding of football programming at all. Ever wondered why football highlights programmes only show edited highlights of games? It's because about 95 per cent of almost any match is boring.The directors are rubbish at editing, pure and simple. In their pathetic, pompous interview in the Special Features section of the DVD, they are interviewed about their reasons for making the film and they respond as if they have produced a work of high art.It is high rubbish, that's all. A waste of money to rent and a total disappointment. I'd rather watch a film about the Bernabau stadium, to be honest.