Kick ´n Rush

Colour, 35 mm
Denmark, 2003, 95 min
Section: Another View

Synopsis

Soccer is a world religion... and Beckham is its prophet. Three friends, a trio of Danish teenagers eager to worship this cult, play for an amateur soccer club under the leadership of protagonist Jacob’s dad. Prior to each match, he builds up their confidence by giving them the names of various famous soccer stars. Thus, from one day to the next the local soccer field hosts Figo, Ronaldo, and even Beckham. The boys long to become pro soccer players but this dream comes true only for a very few. Or for none. In addition to soccer, the boys are of course interested in the opposite sex. Jacob, though haunted by images of overly-developed young women, finds first love with his schoolmate Mathilda. Their relationship is full of expectation, misunderstanding, awkwardness, repeated reconciliation and hope. Growing up brings its share of moral dilemmas and conflicts with everyday life. It also forces them to make tough decisions: between soccer and friends, and between possible relationships. Film buffs will be reminded of Fellini’s classic Amarcord, primarily in scenes in which the trio of friends spends time gazing in fascination at the cleavage of a buxom employee of the local cafeteria. 

About the director

Aage Rais-Nordentoft (b. 1969, Åarhus) studied comparative literature at Åarhus University, and began his film carrier in Copenhagen as a producer. His best known film is The Glass Wall (Glasmuren, 1994), while his feature debut, the children’s film The Flyer (Anton, 1996), received a Special Mention at the Kinderfilmfest in Berlin. Teens (Tøser og drengerøve, 1998) followed, a docudrama about adolescents. In his next documentary, Operation Bilka (2002), the director focused on two Danish UN soldiers during the war in the Balkans.  Kick ´N Rush (2 ryk og en aflevering, 2003) is his third feature film.